PAS leader: How can a poor party buy MPs?

A PAS leader has censured those who accused the Islamist party of using financial inducements to lure federal lawmakers to switch support.

According to ulama wing leader Ahmad Yahaya, PAS does not have the means to do so and therefore, the accusation is nothing short of “ironic”.

“How can a poor party use money as a bribe to garner support?” he asked.

On the contrary, Ahmad (above) accused PAS’ rivals of forking out millions to certain opposition lawmakers in return for their support for the coalition government.

“Is it not the case where the practice of money politics has taken root in their (coalition government) parties and leadership?

“It is not proper to equate PAS with parties that use wealth and positions as the main rewards in politics,” he was quoted as saying by Harakah Online.

The Pokok Sena MP said PAS has never subscribed to corrupt political practices and had opposed using financial rewards to defend the nation and Islam.

Ahmad argued that the coalition government has only itself to blame for the erosion of support among the people due to its “failures in administration”.

“There is no need to blame others when your own house is about to crumble,” he added.

Over the past week, there has been talk of the opposition securing statutory declarations from MPs to topple the government.

Community Communications Department (J-Kom) deputy director-general Ismail Yusop claimed that there is a plot dubbed the Dubai Move, which Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi later confirmed.

On Sunday, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed that the opposition had sufficient SDs and was just waiting for the right moment.

A slew of police reports has been lodged against the Dubai Move - including by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political aide.

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