SHAH ALAM – Revelations about Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) election spending in the 15th General Election (GE15), allegedly borne by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), have confirmed long-standing rumours about why ties between Umno and Pas did not last.
Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that he was not surprised by Pas’ willingness to abandon Umno in the Muafakat Nasional (MN) pact just to team up with Bersatu to form PN.
“No wonder Pas was willing to leave Umno in MN to register and establish PN with Bersatu.
“Even back then, many informed us that Bersatu had offered financial assistance to Pas for GE15.
“So today, when the former political secretary to PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that all PN election expenses, including for Pas candidates, were borne by Bersatu, it only confirms what was said at the time,” he wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Previously, Muhyiddin’s former principal private secretary, Datuk Dr Marzuki Mohamad, disclosed that Bersatu fully covered PN’s election costs in GE15.
The minimum cost for a parliamentary seat, he said, could reach RM1 million, with the actual amount potentially higher depending on local circumstances.
He said Pas did not face major financial issues during GE15 as they contested under the PN logo and all campaign materials were provided by the coalition.
Earlier, Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor revealed that the cost of defending a parliamentary seat in GE16 could reach RM1 million in the future if the party failed to master the use of technology.