Nik Abduh: Hadi and other PAS leaders told me not to tell the truth

Nik Abduh talking to reporters at the state MACC headquarters on Friday. -Bernamapic

PETALING JAYA: PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang gave his "blessings" to Bachok MP Nik Abduh Nik Aziz to lie whether it was the latter's voice, admitting that the party had allegedly received millions from Umno.

In a Facebook posting today (Feb 13), Nik Abduh admitted he was torn between admitting the truth that it was indeed his voice or denying the audio recording.

"In early 2018, before the 14th General Election, an audio recording alleged as the speech of Nik Abduh Nik Aziz went viral. It shocked everyone, as the speech content alleged that it was true PAS had received millions of bribes from Umno, as suspected by the enemies of PAS.

"It was not much of a shock to me. I was already warned that this audio recording from an internal party meeting will be leaked to the public. I asked myself, would they do such a thing?

"I had two choices. One is to tell the truth and admit. Secondly, to deny it. It was a closed door meeting to a targeted audience. Very closed. My right was to keep the secrecy and not to betray it. Both were syariah-compliant choices," said Nik Abduh.

"I chose the first as it was easier. Truth releases us. Lies only trap us. But I realised it is not merely my own name - I represent PAS to the community. Even though the recording was leaked to mar my reputation, it was also to cause downfall of PAS.

"All PAS leaders I referred to asked me to deny. I refused, but they insisted. Slander must be shut off, they argued. GE14 was heating up and Pakatan Harapan was attacking PAS viciously," said Nik Abduh.

He said in desperation, he approached Abdul Hadi.

"The President quickly gave me his blessings to deny it. I was happy to follow the mandate (from Abdul Hadi). Slander was shut off and PAS bravely entered GE14 and managed to retain its strength in parliamentary and state assembly seats," said Nik Abduh.

His lengthy admission on social media came in the wake of PAS admitting yesterday (Feb 12) that it was indeed his voice in the leaked audio recording.

PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan defended Nik Abduh and said that he himself admitted this, but it was not the entire conversation.

Nik Abduh's rant on FB continued to state that the decision he made to lie was a party decision.

"There are three institutions that changed my first choice (to tell the truth). The party, the court and the government's investigation through the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"Malaysia is the country which has the right over me," said Nik Abduh.

MACC had opened an investigation into allegations that PAS received RM90mil in bribes.

The anti-graft body initiated a probe into claims that PAS was the recipient of 1MDB monies, after Abdul Hadi opted for an out-of-court settlement with editor of news portal Sarawak Report Clare Rewcastle Brown.

Abdul Hadi had earlier sued Rewcastle Brown for libel over an article she published on Aug 6, 2016, alleging the party received RM90mil in bribes from Umno. The MACC has asked for several individuals, including Nik Abduh and former PAS members, to have their statements recorded.