PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has been challenged to come to the defence of his deputy, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, after the attack on him yesterday by Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

"An Umno propaganda operative using the PAS president to attack the PAS deputy president! When was there such a similar incident in the 66-year history of the party?" DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang asked today.

Puad (photo) yesterday cited Hadi's arguments when condemning Tuan Ibrahim for saying that Malaysia's refusal to pursue the 1MDB case prompted foreign countries to investigate the scandal.

Puad also heads the Special Affairs Department (Jasa), which is largely seen as the BN government's propaganda arm.

"Will the PAS president come to the defence of his deputy from such Umno attacks? Quite unthinkable!" Lim said.

Puad yesterday refuted Tuan Ibrahim's claim by saying that it was an invitation by vested interests, and not inaction by the domestic authorities, that caused the United States Department of Justice to probe 1MDB.

"What paved the way for foreign powers were certain individuals lodging reports (against 1MDB abroad), with the intention of courting foreign intervention in the political conflict of our country.

"This argument is supported by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang himself," Puad said.

PAS is pushing for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into 1MDB, so that the investigations can be conducted transparently by a local body.

In a statement today, Hadi reiterated that there was no need for foreign powers to meddle in domestic affairs.

He used the analogy of a pack of dogs in a village fighting over a bone that would jointly turn on an "outsider" dog that tries to join the fray.

The DOJ has filed a civil forfeiture action to seize more than US$1 billion in assets it said were purchased in the United States with funds stolen from 1MDB.

Attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali said the US lawsuit is politically motivated.