ISLAMIST party PAS demanded that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim deliver a public apology for his allegation that Perikatan Nasional (PN) used gambling company revenues to help finance its campaign during the 15th General Election.
This comes after Law and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said’s remark that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was unable to verify claims that PN had received gambling funds and as such, the probe was dropped.
PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin claimed that the answer by the minister clearly shows that the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Anwar is lying.
“According to Azalina’s answer in Parliament, she clearly stated that MACC conducted a thorough investigation into the matter but found the allegations were too general and no parties were able to confirm the matter,” penned the Jerantut MP on his Facebook page.
Khairil emphasised that the fact that Anwar made the assertions only a few weeks after taking power proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he was “lying.”
Moreover, PAS urges the Prime Minister to issue a public apology over the slander and lies against PN in making the claim that PN’s election funds “partly came from gaming companies involved in special draws”.
“On the issue of gambling, certainly this is partly used to finance elections. (I have asked for) checks on that. Whether you call yourself a Malay party or an Islamic party, notwithstanding, the (election) funds came from gaming companies,” he said.
The Opposition’s top figures had vehemently denied the allegation. — May 26, 2023
Main photo credit: Astro Awani
