PAS’ support for Dr Mahathir Mohamad to remain as prime minister is to ensure that oil royalty payments to Kelantan and Terengganu keep coming, said Terengganu PKR chief Azan Ismail.

The Islamist party is just looking for ways to repay the prime minister for billions of ringgit in allocations to both PAS-ruled states and hope that by supporting him, they will continue to receive future payments without hindrance, he said.

“This is one way for Kelantan PAS and Terengganu PAS to thank him. This is actually their way of repaying him, to help Dr Mahathir with a vote of confidence.

“They believe that if they support him, they can get more oil royalties,” Azan told The Malaysian Insight, slamming PAS’ agenda of being driven by financial need.

“Previously, there were allegations that PAS received money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) for defending (former prime minister) Najib Razak.

“Now, they want to defend Dr Mahathir. The people now see how PAS has changed, not like what it was in the days of (former PAS presidents) Nik Aziz Nik Mat and Fadhil Noor.

“PAS is acting strange now.”

PAS said it will table a motion of confidence at the next sitting to support Dr Mahathir to remain as prime minister until the end of his term.

Talk is also rife that PAS is involved in a backdoor move to form the federal government with Umno, Dr Mahathir’s own party Bersatu, and segments of PKR. – February 15, 2020.