PAS has denied any involvement with the International Republican Institute (IRI) despite it being in Pakatan Rakyat with PKR and DAP before.

“This definitely is not PAS. We see this is an issue to that an issue that affects the nation’s sovereignty and security,” party secretary-general and Kota Baru MP Takiyuddin Hassan told reporters in a press conference in Parliament today. 

The Islamist party’s deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the government should open up an investigation into IRI’s involvement in Malaysian politics. 

“We also hope an investigation can be done on the interference in politics,” he said.

The Kubang Kerian MP added Putrajaya should moot a political financing law in order to prevent the interference of foreign powers in the nation’s politics. 

PAS’ response came after IRI today refuted claims that it worked with the opposition Pakatan Harapan in an attempt to undermine the then ruling Barisan Nasional government.

News portal Free Malaysia Today’s in a report yesterday said IRI president Daniel Twinning had admitted that the Washington-based outfit’s efforts in Malaysia had finally paid off in the 14th general election.

He said the opposition’s victory would work in Washington’s favour.

“I visited and I was sitting there with many of the new leaders of this new government, many of whom were our partners who we’ve been working with for 15 years, and one of the most senior of them who’s now one of the people running the government said to me, ‘Gosh, IRI, you never gave up on us even when we were ready to give up on ourselves’,” Twinning was quoted as saying in a forum last month.

PKR and DAP leaders had denied any involvement with IRI although DAP’s Tony Pua said the party received training from the consultancy. 

“All parties in Malaysia had participated in their training. It doest matter what party it is, Umno, Gerakan, MCA, DAP and PKR all had participated because this is training communications, training for the internet and stuff like that,” he said. – August 7, 2018.