UNDER a cloud of controversy for allegedly taking funds from political nemesis Umno, PAS today defended its spending and resources in GE14.

The party’s number two, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, said PAS flags are paid for by members, responding to gossip about the unusual amount of money the Islamist party was spending on the election.

“Our members buy cloth and make their own flags. They also go out to put them up themselves. The party does not give them money or flags. Members are expected to do this on their own.

“Support from our members in this election is extraordinary,” Tuan Ibrahim told reporters in Marang, Terengganu but declined to go into specific monetary terms.

PAS’ rivals in the Pakatan Harapan coalition have observed extraordinary wealth of resources the former has shown in campaigning for GE14.

Ex-PAS number two, Mohamad Sabu for instance, remarked yesterday that when he was in PAS till 2015, the party always struggled to find money.

“PAS was a poor party. But now we see PAS putting up flags along the roads to the point where you can’t even see where you are going,” Mohamad told a ceramah in Dungun on April 30.

UK-based Sarawak Report had alleged that PAS received money from its political enemy Umno, but this has been denied. The site is being sued for defamation in a UK court by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

Tuan Ibrahim added that cloth flags are reused from previous elections and programmes by members.

“Our members are the earliest to remove these flags for future use after the election campaign period has concluded. Some of them even wash the flags.

“We are not like other parties that wait for the headquarters to send the materials. Our members sacrifice for the party,” he said. – May 1, 2018.