PAS-Bersatu clash a familiar story for former allies, says Rafizi

PAS' recent spat with Bersatu over funds is nothing new to its former allies, former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said.

Rafizi said his own party PKR, as well as Pakatan Harapan component party DAP, had similar experiences with PAS back in the days of Pakatan Rakyat.

"Everyone who has worked together with PAS has gone through this experience. Now it's Bersatu's turn," he said on his "Yang Berhenti Menteri" podcast last night.

Yesterday, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad reaffirmed his party's commitment to Perikatan Nasional following a brief yet terse exchange with Bersatu over election funding issues.

During the recently concluded PAS' 71st muktamar in Kedah, its election director, Sanusi Nor, had mocked Bersatu for supposedly enjoying an easier ride in the election by relying on PAS’ facilities and machinery.

In response to Sanusi, Marzuki Mohamad, who served as the principal private secretary to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin when he was the prime minister, said Bersatu had covered the election expenses for the 15th general election.

Commenting further, Rafizi expressed his belief that Marzuki was likely right.

He based this on the MACC freezing and then seizing several bank accounts related to Bersatu in 2023.

"I'm not surprised if Bersatu says they gave money to PAS, but now PAS feels they don't need Bersatu any longer," he said.

Leaders facing charges

Rafizi jested that if Bersatu had not funded PAS in the last general election, it would have been troublesome for the former's leaders to go to court over the Jana Wibawa issue.

The Jana Wibawa programme was introduced during Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin's time as the prime minister.

It is linked to charges of abuse of power and money laundering against Muhyiddin, while Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan is facing charges of corruption and money laundering.

Last month, Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad was acquitted and discharged of all 12 corruption and money laundering charges linked to the project, following his payment of a RM4.1 million compound.

In his podcast, Rafizi also said that PAS does not have a history of staying in any political alliance for long.

"Whatever it is, it has come to a point where PAS think that its strength and greatness are above all, and other people are not important," said the Pandan MP.

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