KELANTAN folk, who have voted to keep PAS as the state government since 1990, are rejecting allegations of scandal surrounding the Islamist party’s top leaders and said only the courts can decide their innocence or guilt.

In Kota Baru, Wan Idris, 58, said he viewed the allegations as backlash for PAS’ consistent stand to uphold the interest of Malays and Islam.

“We know that many are not comfortable with PAS for defending the Malays and Islam. I think this has so far been the worst attack on PAS.

“When we defend our religion, this is the result,” the retired civil servant told The Malaysian Insight.

Wan said the attacks against PAS this time are far more aggressive but does not believe PAS supporters in Kelantan will be swayed by them.

He was referring to ongoing investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission into the RM90 million allegedly given to PAS by Umno for support in the 14th general election.

Several PAS leaders have been questioned over these claims, which first surfaced in a 2016 article in whistle-blower website Sarawak Report, and in an audio recording last year before GE14 by PAS central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz.

Those questioned included Nik Abduh, PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin, party secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan and party elections secretary Mohamed Nasir Che Daud.

Five accounts, linked to former PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa, have been frozen.

PAS has governed Kelantan since 1990 and support for the Islamist party that has traditionally been Umno’s rival for the Malay-Muslim vote has been hard to shake.

It’s not just with older supporters like Wan Idris, but 27-year-old Arif Shah feels the same way.

The laundromat worker said with party leaders under siege, the party faithful will be even stauncher in their support.

“Those who don’t know PAS, they may believe the allegations. But the rest of us do not believe it as we have always known PAS to be the victim of political slander.

“There was some shock over the news at first, but when the MACC issued a statement saying that PAS was not guilty, people here stopped caring.”

Arif was referring to the MACC statement which stated that the RM90 million had not been channelled into PAS’ official party accounts.

The anti-graft body is now investigating other accounts belonging to individuals and to foundations linked to the Islamist party.

But such intricacies are too much to bother with for Bakhtiar, a 32-year-old who only wanted to be known by his first name.

He said it is best to wait for the court’s decision on the case.

“It’s hard to say whether it is right or wrong. If the court finds guilt, then we won’t give (PAS) our support any more.”

Another Kota Baru resident, who wanted to be known as Nik, wondered why, for all the hue and cry in the media, MACC has yet to charge any PAS leader in court.

The 39-year-old motorcycle repair shop owner was stoic about alleged corruption among religious leaders.

“The issue of holy men taking money for themselves has always been there. If you know they did something wrong, then just charge them in court.” – March 7, 2019.