PERMATANG PAUH: PAS has hit back at Umno Vice President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for saying that the issue between Barisan Nasioanl (BN) candidate Rohaizat Othman and his former law firm partner Yusri Isahak was a “personal matter” and should not be dragged in during the by-election.
PAS by-election operations director Datuk Mahfuz Omar said it was Umno which started the ball rolling by blaming Yusri for misusing the money belonging to the Koperasi Pekebun Getah.
“Yusri came out to defend his name and his family after being named and accused by Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan for solely being responsible for misusing the client’s money.
“That was Umno’s own doing and Yusri has come out to say that Rohaizat was equally responsible.
“From day one, we have been talking about his credibility backed by the statement made by the (Malaysia) Bar Council that he was disbarred as an advocate and solicitor for his personal misconduct.
“We are not making up stories, the facts are there for all to see for themselves.
“Perhaps Zahid and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should check with the former Umno disciplinary committee member Tan Sri Khalid Ahmad, who is the chairman of the Bar Council disciplinary board, who would have chaired the meeting to disbar Rohaizat,” Mahfuz said.
He added the Bar Council also said the offence committed by Rohaizat was on his own misconduct, and it would not punish anyone under Section 103D of the Legal Profession Act for the offences committed by the firm or partners.
Speaking at a press conference at the PAS by-election centre at Permatang Pasir, Mahfuz vowed to continue exposing more abuse by Rohaizat involving even villagers from Permatang Pasir.
Mahfuz said Yusri has also started attending ceramahs to clear his name and tell his side of the story.
“PAS would be willing to arrange a debate between Rohaizat and Yusri on this matter and invite Khalid to moderate so voters in Permatang Pasir can hear both sides of their story and decide for themselves.
“Our campaign since day one has been that our candidate is clean and trustworthy,” he added.
Mahfuz also lambasted rumours going around PAS candidate Mohd Salleh Man had embezzled RM600,000 during the Permatang Pauh by-election.
“This is truly a joke. If we had that kind of money, we would not be having problems trying to finance this by-election.
“Umno is just trying to paint a picture that our candidate is as bad as theirs and without morals and ethics.
“If they have proof show it to us, as we have done with their candidate, don’t make unsubstantiated and unjustified claims,” he added.
He also dismissed another SMS rumour which was also going around about Salleh owing a bank RM320,000 and on the verge of being declared a bankrupt and again demanded for proof.
“Umno is now pushed into a corner, so they are trying to portray Salleh to be equally unmoral and lack of credibility like Rohaizat, which the voters would never buy.
“I am sure that it is Umno members themselves who actually started the issue about Rohaizat being disbarred as they are not happy with his candidacy,” he added.-TheEdge
