Patriot wants cops, MACC to probe claim
KUALA LUMPUR: The National Patriot Association (Patriot) yesterday called for an investigation into the claim in a Sarawak Report article that the RM90 million Umno allegedly paid to Pas leaders could be from 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB) funds.
Patriot president Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji requested that the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) start the probe and urged anyone who had information on the matter to lodge reports with the authorities.
“Even if there are no reports, the police and MACC should launch the probe.”
He said Malaysians wanted to know the truth behind the out-ofcourt settlement initiated by Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang after he filed a defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown for alleging in the article that RM90 million had been paid to top Pas leaders to get them to support Umno.
He said the dropping of the suit did not mean that the case was closed.
“Malaysians demand to know the truth because although the case will not be adjudicated, Rewcastle-Brown’s allegation that RM90 million was paid to Pas leaders remains.”
He said there was an audio recording of Pas Central Committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz mentioning about receiving RM2 million from Umno, which was furnished as evidence by Rewcastle- Brown and was not contested by Hadi.
He said Malaysians wanted to know the truth because the money paid to Pas leaders allegedly came from 1MDB funds.
Hadi filed a defamation suit in the London High Court of Justice after Sarawak Report published the article by Rewcastle-Brown on Aug 6, 2016.
Earlier this month, Hadi reportedly settled the case out of court and Rewcastle-Brown subsequently withdrew her counterclaims.