Gambling funds: Pas confident Bersatu is clean

KUALA LUMPUR - Pas is confident that Bersatu is clean of any allegations involving the party with gambling companies during the 15th general election (GE15).

Pas president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the allegations made against Bersatu were only accusations without proof.

He added that the party making such accusations must show proof that Bersatu used funds from the gambling company for the election campaigns.

"Bersatu and us are open in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition, there are meeting reports, that’s why we are confident Bersatu is clean and straightforward with us.

"The accusations were baseless, based on the current legal system and Islam, the accused is not guilty until it’s proven; if they dare, prove it then.

"We don’t want it to be just accusations alone because we see that Pakatan Harapan (PH) is throwing a lot of slanderous statements.

"The existing cases remain unresolved, but new ones are searched for and presented," he told the media after the ‘Jejak Nabi Muhammad SAW' book launching ceremony, written by himself and published by the Permata Ummah Foundation and Permata Ummah Library.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has previously hinted that part of the PN’s election funds came from gambling companies involved in lucky draws.

On Thursday, Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, in a written statement, informed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that it found no bribes received, including the funds, by the party, which was the government at the time it was claimed.

Azalina said MACC has done a thorough investigation based on the information; however, the agency found the information was too general and no party could confirm the issue.

But on Friday, she confirmed the investigation of gambling funds involving PN was not dropped.

Following Azalina’s answer on Thursday, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he would discuss with his lawyer taking further action against Anwar and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the statements they made regarding the matter.

The PN chairman also asked for the prime minister to apologise before he considered further actions.

The prime minister, on the other hand, said that he would not release any statement if it was baseless. - Awani 'I wouldn't have issued any statement if I had no basis' - Anwar