If PAS 'exploits' Anwar, we could earn RM4m a year - party VP
Party vice-president Idris Ahmad sarcastically suggested there were other opportunities they could seize if it served their interests...
Summary
PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad dismisses claims his party is exploiting the royal addendum issue.
He sarcastically suggests that “exploiting” Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim could be more beneficial, generating RM4 million annually in parliamentary allocations for opposition MPs.
He adds that PAS’ principles were proven when the party stood with Anwar when he was sacked from the government in 1998.
PAS has denied allegations that the party is “exploiting” the royal addendum granting former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak house arrest.
Party vice-president Idris Ahmad sarcastically suggested there were other opportunities they could seize if it served their interests.
“Instead of focusing on the Najib Razak issue, it’s better to focus on (Prime Minister) Anwar (Ibrahim).
“We could also get RM4 million a year as elected representatives. Right now, it’s not just RM4 million, we’re not even getting RM4,” he was reported as saying by Harakahdaily in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan.
It is believed he was referring to parliamentary allocations received by government MPs.
Idris asserted that PAS had no vested interest in advocating for the addendum.
He said PAS’ goal was to unite the Malay and Muslim communities under the unity agenda previously envisioned between PAS, Bersatu, and Umno.
“If we were after personal gain or comfort, we would prefer to ‘exploit’ those in power. This is PAS; we are not an opportunist party, we are a party with principles.
“Truth is our ally, even if it’s presented by an adversary. Falsehood is our enemy, even if it is championed by our friend. We have principles based on the Quran and Sunnah,” he said.
Idris, who is also the Bagan Serai MP, added that PAS had also expressed support for Anwar when he was dismissed from his position as deputy prime minister in 1998.
“If we had worldly interests when you (Anwar) were sacked from Umno in 1998, it would have been better for us to support (Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) than to support you.
“It would have been easier for us to support Abdullah (Ahmad) Badawi, support Najib, rather than support you.
“(Instead), we were beaten by the police, some of us lost our jobs, had our contracts cut, and were reassigned when we supported you,” he said, referring to a time when PAS and PKR had a friendlier relationship.
