Former Federal Territories PAS commissioner Subky Latif said all quarters, including PAS members, should not comment on the matter but wait instead for the UK courts to hear the defamation suit filed by party president Abdul Hadi Awang against Sarawak Report (SR) editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
“I feel it is not wise for people outside to interfere in the court affairs before they have even been completed,” he said.
He said if it was true that Ambiga was the source of the allegation published in SR, PAS members could use the opportunity to get closer to the truth of the issue.
In a commentary published in Harakah, the PAS news organ, yesterday, he said Ambiga could become a friend in determining the truth and ensuring justice as the suit hearing takes place.
Hadi filed his suit at the London High Court in April following an article Clare wrote in SR on Aug 6 last year.
The eight-paragraph article claimed that RM90 million was “reckoned” to have entered the accounts of top PAS leaders to woo them into supporting Umno and Barisan Nasional.
It was reported on Oct 30 that Clare had claimed in her defence statement that she and Ambiga spoke about Prime Minister Najib Razak, 1MDB and PAS in July 2016.
“Ambiga had told the defendant that her sources, whom she said were reliable, had estimated the amount that had been paid was around RM90 million,” said Clare in her affidavit dated Oct 11.
Subky, who is one of Harakah’s founders, said the trial would likely see Ambiga quizzed over the matter.
He said if she were to deny being the source, the onus on substantiating the allegation might fall on Clare.
“PAS does not need to trouble itself with Ambiga. The main concern for PAS now is on proving Sarawak Report had defamed it and how it got hold of the story,” he said.
He added that PAS members should sit back and just watch the proceedings take place.
On Oct 31, PAS vice-president Idris Ahmad urged Ambiga to apologise to the party following Clare’s reported disclosure.
He said the former Bersih chairperson could not remain silent since she had a reputation as an activist who fought for integrity.
PAS ulama wing information chief Khairuddin Aman Razali said Ambiga needed to give an explanation since the claim damaged her credibility.
Ambiga has declined to comment on the issue. “I cannot comment on an ongoing (legal) proceeding in a UK court,” she said.