GEORGE TOWN – PAS has called on its members to help raise RM825,000 to cover damages and costs owed by its Kepala Batas MP, Siti Mastura Muhammad, after she lost a defamation suit filed by three DAP leaders earlier this month.
On December 4, Siti Mastura, serving her first term as MP, was ordered by the High Court to pay a combined RM825,000 in damages to DAP veteran Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.
This followed a suit over remarks made at a ceramah event in Kemaman, Terengganu, on November 4 last year, where she linked the trio to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.
The court awarded RM300,000 to Kit Siang, RM250,000 to Guan Eng, and RM200,000 to Kok, with a 5% annual interest applicable if the payment is delayed.
An internal letter from PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, seen by Scoop, confirmed the party’s central leadership has directed all members and branches to contribute towards the payment.
Takiyuddin said that Siti Mastura’s remarks during the Kemaman by-election campaign were made as part of her responsibilities to the party and its mission.
He added that the plaintiffs’ legal representatives, SN Nair & Partners, issued a letter on December 11 demanding immediate payment of the judgment sum.
Betul ke ni penyokong PAS? pic.twitter.com/WMykhEBXA7
— Adzman Kamaruddin (@adzman86) December 22, 2024
“The failure of the defendant (Siti Mastura) to pay the judgment sum would result in the plaintiffs (DAP leaders) enforcing the judgment by initiating bankruptcy proceedings,” Takiyuddin wrote in the letter.
“This will cause the Kepala Batas MP to lose her qualification, and her seat will be vacated for a by-election. Central PAS has discussed this matter in detail and decided that all levels of PAS need to contribute to settle the judgment cost.”
The letter outlined fundraising requirements for various PAS divisions, including a minimum contribution of RM500 from central committee members and branches, while state chapters and party wings at federal, state, and divisional levels must raise at least RM20,000 each.
Under Article 48 of the Federal Constitution, an undischarged bankrupt is disqualified from serving as a Member of Parliament. Similarly, the Malaysian Insolvency Department confirms that individuals served with a bankruptcy notice are barred from holding parliamentary or state assembly seats.
Penang PAS secretary Iszuree Ibrahim confirmed the authenticity of the letter to Scoop. “The letter is legitimate. If it is not, I would have denied it,” he said.
He added that fundraising for leaders involved in court cases is not new, citing similar efforts by DAP when its leaders faced legal challenges in the past.
Scoop has reached out to Takiyuddin and Siti Mastura for further comment.
The letter gained attention online after being shared on X (formerly Twitter) by user Adzman Kamaruddin (@adzman86) yesterday. – December 23, 2024