PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that its assemblypersons have been ‘bought’ did not refer to a monetary transaction, said the party’s vice-president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

Instead, he said what Abdul Hadi meant was that Hulu Kelang assemblyperson Saari Sungib and Morib assemblyperson Hasnul Baharuddin’s dignity is easily bought and sold.

“The speech does not refer to being bought with money. He meant dignity. Our self-respect should not be easily bought. That is what I think is meant by the president.

“I think as a party member and elected representative from PAS, the best thing to do is to meet the president. I think that is the best way is not to use the media (to speak),” he said.

He said this when speaking to reporters at PAS’ Pengkalan Kubor by-election operations centre today, where he was asked about Saari’s challenge to Hadi to prove his allegations.

Previously, Hadi had slammed Saari and Hasnul’s move to sign statutory declarations supporting PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to become Selangor menteri besar, claiming that its assemblyperson had been ‘stolen’ and ‘bought’ from the party.

Tuan Ibrahim clarified today that Hadi’s speech was not referring to PKR, but instead was criticism aimed at the two assemblypersons.

“It is not directed at PKR. It is criticism to our people. The two assemblypersons, not PKR. I think it is the expression of a party president who believes that members need to be loyal to the party.

“When beyond the party’s approval, a father would admonish his son. Similarly, the party president has the right to reprimand. (They) need to be open to criticism. It is for the better,” he said.

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