This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on April 19, 2018

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS has never received any funds from Umno, the Islamist party’s secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said yesterday, refuting talk that the Barisan Nasional party was financing it for the 14th general election (GE14).

“Even if they offer us money, we will not take it,” said Takiyuddin at a press conference at the party’s headquarters.

He was commenting on questions circulating in the media about where PAS had obtained the money to contest in some 160 parliamentary seats in GE14, which would cost roughly RM34 million.

“We are not the government, and there is nothing we can give them (our funders) in return [for financing us]. So, I do not see any element of corruption,” said Takiyuddin.

“If anyone has proof that PAS leadership has received funds with an element of corruption involved, please lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission,” he said.

“If anyone donates to PAS and there is no element of corruption, it is not your business to question it,” he added.

“Even the court case in the UK has not been resolved. Now there are those who have approached us to settle out of court,” said Takiyuddin.

He was referring to the ongoing court case between PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Sarawak Report editor Claire Rewcastle Brown over an article alleging that PAS leaders had received RM90 million from Umno.

“What is the reason? We will proceed [with the court case],” he added.

Hadi had filed a defamation suit against the Sarawak Report editor at the London High Court last year after the Sarawak Report published the article on Aug 6, 2017.

A local news portal reported on April 14 that Rewcastle Brown has filed an application to strike out the suit, on grounds including intimidation of witnesses. The pre-hearing in the UK is scheduled between April 30 and May 2.

Takiyuddin also explained that PAS has always been dependent on the fees paid by its members, as well as donations from the party’s sympathisers.

“Even this PAS headquarters was bought using PAS members’ money. We did not undertake any borrowing. PAS money sits in the pockets of its members,” he said, referring to the party’s one million members.

“Lifetime members are required to pay a one-off fee of RM100, and normal members have to pay a monthly fee. It is a simple calculation,” he said.