PAS urges swift probe into PKR's alleged 'dirty funds'

PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari has called on the authorities to promptly investigate a viral video allegedly showing a PKR division chief discussing the party’s finances.

The Pasir Mas MP revealed he had just received an official reply from Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail regarding an issue he had previously raised.

“I have just received an official reply from the home minister in the Dewan Rakyat on a viral video issue I raised, which surfaced during the recent PKR election.

“However, the minister’s reply dismissed this as merely an ‘internal audit and administrative issue of a political party.’

“This is a very disappointing statement, which appears to downplay what is actually a much more serious issue that poses a high risk to the integrity of national leadership,” he said at a press conference in Parliament today.

Fadhli stressed that the issue must be taken seriously as it may involve violations of laws related to illegal political financing.

“I am demanding a thorough and independent investigation by the MACC and police, regardless of any individual’s position,” he added.

He also challenged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to publicly clarify whether such funds exist and to disclose the identities of the donor and recipient involved.

Previously, Wangsa Maju PKR division chief Lai Chen Heng had condemned a viral video allegedly showing him discussing political funding for PKR.

The video, which made rounds on social media, purportedly shows Lai talking about financial contributions received by his division from a prominent businessperson. The funds were described as “unaudited” and linked to a senior political figure.

Don’t ‘brush it off’

Fadhli said the matter should not be brushed off as merely a party’s internal affair, as it may involve offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613).

“Therefore, the public remarks made by the PKR division chief must be taken seriously, as they raise the possibility of legal violations by a donor whose funds allegedly came from illicit sources.

“This cannot be resolved simply by taking disciplinary action against the recipient, while the main coordinator of the funds remains untouched,” he said.

He also noted that the MACC had previously acted on several cases involving political funding, including the case of Muda MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, who was investigated over RM250,000 in Bersatu Youth funds.

Fadhli further compared the matter to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s case, in which he was charged with receiving political funds from foreign sources, including those linked to SRC International.

Reporting by B Nantha Kumar, Alyaa Alhadjri, Qistina Nadia Dzulqarnain

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