Hanipa Maidin: Withdrawal of suit against Rewcastle Brown a case of no evidence or cowardice?

PETALING JAYA: Sepang MP Mohamed Hanipa Maidin has rubbished suggestions by a PAS leader that Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown could not prove allegations that Barisan Nasional gave the Islamist party RM90mil. 

Hanipa, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said PAS could not fool the thinking crowd by giving such a lame excuse, as evidence was only tendered in court during proceedings. 

But, as the case was settled out of court, there would be no avenue to showcase the evidence, he said. 

It is understood that Hanipa may have been referring to PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man’s claim that the Sarawak Report had made the allegation that Umno gave RM90mil to PAS leaders without any evidence.

“Sorry. I cannot remain quiet after reading such a statement. Sorry to say, it is like trying to fool the people,” said Hanipa who did not name the party leader.

Hanipa questioned if the party leader had forgotten that Sarawak Report had tendered an audio recording purportedly of one party leader who had allegedly admitted receiving money. 

“And the lawyer representing the party president did not object to the audio recording being tendered in court. 

“If we claim that Sarawak Report had slandered, don’t allow the submission of the recording. This is called suicidal,” said Hanipa who joined Parti Amanah Negara after quitting PAS.

He said the individual in the recording would have been called in as a witness. 

“But, unfortunately, that is not going to happen, because the suit has been withdrawn,” he said on his Facebook post on Monday (Feb 4).

He asked if it was a case of no evidence or cowardice.

“When a suit is withdrawn, be a gentleman lah. Admit that the suing party has no confidence in proceeding further, far from winning," he added.