PAS’ donors and supporters are now under investigation as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) widens its scope of investigations into the RM90 million the Islamist party allegedly received from Umno between the last two general elections. Both parties were loosely allied in the May 9 elections last year.

MACC’s initial investigations showed no direct money trail from the bank accounts of Umno to PAS, nor any transaction between the two parties’ members.

A high-ranking MACC source told The Malaysian Insight it is now looking at the party’s regular donors and cronies who are known to hand over large amounts of money to PAS. These include businessmen and socialites.

The anti-graft agency is investigating allegations that the RM90 million was from state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) channelled through Umno. The money was allegedly to win over the Islamist party’s support ahead of GE14.

The source said MACC is now investigating the private accounts of these donors during the time PAS allegedly received the money. 

“There is a possibility that the monies were channelled from the personal accounts of those being investigated to the party. This is the focus of our investigation for now,” the source told The Malaysian Insight.

MACC earlier said it is investigating nine PAS leaders and some of their wives after initial checks revealed they owned a variety of luxury vehicles, including a BMW 525, Mini Clubman, Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Camry and Toyota Fortuners.

Other vehicles of note unearthed by the search were a Range Rover, Audi A6, Toyota Altis, Porsche Cayman, Audi Q7, Volkswagen Passat and several superbikes.

“Some are registered in their names and some are registered in the names of the second and third wives.

“Some were found to own luxury cars worth more than a million ringgit besides a bungalow worth more than RM3 million in the Klang Valley,” MACC sources said.

MACC has, to date, recorded the statements of PAS central committee member Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz and former party leader Nasharudin Mat Isa.

The investigation was launched after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang withdrew a suit filed against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown over her article on the RM90 million transfer to the Islamist party.

The two parties reached a settlement out of court, the terms of which were undisclosed.

Rewcastle-Brown, however, said it was agreed that the “offending article” would not be removed. In the article, she alleges that RM90 million was deposited into the accounts of the top PAS leaders to ensure their support for Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Meanwhile, the MACC and the police are investigating an audio recording of Nik Abduh’s admission that he received the money from Umno and his boast that the United States’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was in contact with him.

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan confirmed it was Bachok MP Nik Abduh in the audio recording but denied that the Islamist party received funds from Umno.

Takiyuddin said the claims in the clip alluded to PAS receiving donations from Umno members. – February 19, 2019.