Even then, Universiti Malaya’s Awang Azman Pawi believes many PAS supporters would probably be having mixed feelings over the issue.
“The party’s response appears to be very careful and has many layers ,” he told FMT.
Awang Azman was asked to comment on PAS saying it was satisfied with a clarification on the issue of debts incurred by 1MDB following a meeting with the sovereign wealth fund’s president Arul Kanda yesterday.
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had reportedly said Arul explained the state-owned company’s rationalisation plan to representatives from the Islamist party during the discussion which lasted more than three hours.
Awang Azman said the 1MDB issue was a complex one and could not be easily understood with just one explanation.
“The explanation given by Arul Kanda is still not enough and incapable of influencing either pro-government or pro-opposition Malays, or even those who are neutral.
“This is because the statement is seen to have many layers and is specifically for rationalisation purposes only.
“The statement also gives birth to worries of new problems which may arise, if left unmonitored,” he said.
Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia supreme council member Rais Hussin, meanwhile, was of the view that urban and semi-urban Malays were smart enough to reject PAS.
As for the rural and Felda Malays, Rais stressed the need for Pakatan Harapan to explain it more, and noted that the 1MDB roadshow would help in explaining the truth about 1MDB to them.
“It is hard work for PH but it can be done as even now the rural Malays are beginning to understand the impact of the issues affecting 1MDB,” he said.
Rais said given what has been happening worldwide with regards to 1MDB, thanks to social media, the PAS grassroots would start thinking about the issue.
“They cannot be continuously fooled by the PAS leadership. Already I have received messages from some enlightened PAS leaders distancing themselves from such comments.
“Even the comments from PAS leaders so far is somewhat contradictory: ‘yes we are satisfied with Arul’s explanation in one round table, but still we want a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)’.
“If you are satisfied, why then ask for an RCI? PAS has been a party of contradictions for the last few years. Let the people judge,” Rais said.
The meeting was attended by 30 members of the Islamist party’s national committee and other leaders invited by PAS, including former Selangor menteri besar Khalid Ibrahim.
1MDB reportedly said last week it had written to Abu Dhabi-based International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) about its failure to pay US$600 million (RM2.57 billion) by the July 31 deadline.
The firm said the first instalment of its full payment totalling US$1.2 billion to IPIC had been pushed to August as the funds 1MDB was to have received last month had been delayed due to the need for additional regulatory approvals.
It said all payments to IPIC would be based on returns from 1MDB’s rationalisation plan.
On Aug 1, IPIC had reportedly given 1MDB five days to make the payment.