PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang today said that the Islamic party still holds true to Islamic precepts and is against all forms of corruption.

But he added that the party would not punish anyone before proper investigation was carried out, be it in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case or others.

"We are not just looking specifically at 1MDB. We oppose (all forms of) corruption. But it must be investigated first. We don't want to punish anyone before they are investigated properly according to Islamic laws which we are fighting for," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby today.

Hadi also reiterated that the party would not punish anyone accused of being corrupt before conviction.

"A person is innocent before proven guilty," he said.

Hadi was asked to respond to an allegation by debate champion and student Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman that PAS seemed to have fallen off its the Islamic rails by refusing to declare that the 1MDB saga is a corruption scandal.

'Media acts as judge'

In a related matter, the PAS president also expressed disappointment that the media seemed to be dispensing judgement on several issues.

"What is happening today is that it is the media that often acts the judge, not the judiciary. Don't come to a decision before there is (a ruling).

"Whether (it involves) Lim Guan Eng, Anwar Ibrahim - who has been sentenced - or the prime minister, their alleged involvement (in graft) must be proven first," he said.

PAS has been under fire for its supposedly soft stance against 1MDB and other scandals of the Umno dominated BN government. Some have accused the party of trying to curry favour with Umno, and has forsaken its Islamic principles for an alliance with the party, in the name of the Malays.

Hadi and PAS however maintain that they are still following Islamic precepts, but are just being careful not to engage in slander when dealing with allegations.