KUALA NERUS: Pas members have so far contributed a total of RM2.1 million towards helping party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang in his defamation suit against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
Pas secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the legal payments were made from Nov 30, 2016 until June this year.
“From our records, we have paid the legal fees from Nov 30, 2016 until June 2018 from the proceeds which are deposited into one of Pas’ accounts, totaling £355,550.82, equivalent to RM2,117,870.82.
“The latest bill amounts to £25,000,” he said during a question-and-answer session when presenting the party’s annual accounts during the 64th Pas Muktamar today.
The question was raised by a Temerloh Pas delegate, who asked on how much funds have been collected so far to support Hadi’s case against the blog.
Takiyuddin said they still need a huge amount to pay the legal costs if they were to continue with the case.
He said the money was collected on the basis of solidarity. He noted that the case did not involve Pas but only Abdul Hadi against Rewcastle-Brown.
“The collection was done by our members on the basis of solidarity and support for our president in his case against Sarawak Report,” he said.
Meanwhile, Takiyuddin said he was informed by the lawyers that the defendant is feeling the pressure.
“The lawyers have told me that those on the other side are getting restless. The case development looks positive,” he said.
Hadi is suing Brown over an allegedly defamatory article titled ‘As Najib Denies All Over 1MDB, Let’s Not Forget His Many Other Criminal Connections – COMMENT’ published on Aug 6 last year, which plaintiff had claimed as being false.
The article purportedly alleges that Hadi had received bribes from Najib to the tune of RM90 million.
Hadi is represented by lawyers from the legal firm of Carter-Ruck and barrister Jacob Dean.
The London High Court had earlier this year dismissed Rewcastle-Brown’s statement of defence. Rewcastle-Brown was reportedly ordered to pay 28,900 British pounds (RM155,790) to Hadi by the court after the latter won all five interlocutory applications.