PAS today urged authorities to explain the delay of the charge against an ex-Umno political aide over the alleged breach of trust involving a poverty-alleviation programme.

PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar ( right ) said that Attorney-General's (AG's) Chambers’ claim that the issue is still being probed by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is suspect as the MACC themselves had prior to that announced the suspect will be charged last month.

"Questions also arise as the MACC's own independent review panel, headed by Johan Jaafar, did not know that the case was passed back to MACC and went to seek explanation from the Attorney-General's Chambers.

"Who is being slow on this? The MACC? Attorney-General's Chambers? Or since both are under the purview of the Prime Minister's Office, is it the PMO?" he asked.

Mahfuz added that AG Abdul Gani Patail should also explain the grounds for the last-minute cancellation of the charge.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of integrity Paul Low told Malaysiakini last Friday the AG's Chambers had delayed the charge to "tighten up the investigations".

Meanwhile, Mahfuz asked if there is a deadline for the investigations as the suspect, who was arrested for suspected misappropriation of funds exceeding RM1.1 million, has been released on bail.

"Justice delayed is justice denied," the Pokok Sena MP said.

Similarly, he sought an update on 60 corruption investigations against police personnel and whether charges have been brought against any of them.

PAS making inroads in Sarawak

On a separate matter, he said that the expected resignation of Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, 77, by the end of this month will not relieve the BN of accusations of corruption in the state.

He said that Pakatan Rakyat is also now prepping for a state election, which it expects to be called by early 2015 before the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) in April that year.

He said that although PAS has yet to win a seat in Sarawak, it improved its performance in 2011, with none of its candidates losing their deposits, like before.

"We now have lawyers, engineers and doctors representing us in Sarawak so I would say that the younger generation are open to us. Those who can't accept PAS is of Taib's generation," he said.

The Sarawak legislative assembly's term expires June 20, 2016, and snap polls can be called anytime after June 20, 2014.

Mahfuz also brushed off allegations that a rift between PKR Selangor chief Azmin Ali and Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim ( right, in photo ) will jeopardise PKR's chances in the March 23 Kajang by-election.

"The rift is just something played up by mainstream media. Azmin will go all out, as will Khalid to secure the victory of (PKR de facto leader and candidate) Anwar Ibrahim," he said.

He, however, refused to comment on a question on whether he buys PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli's justification of the 'Kajang Move', which saw PKR's Kajang assemblyman Lee Chin Cheh vacating his seat to trigger a by-election.

Specifically, he was asked if he agreed with Rafizi's remark that the move was urgently needed to fend off Umno attacks and a possible declaration of emergency, as what happened in Kelantan.

"I did not read his statement so I cannot comment," he said tersely.