When asked about the matter yesterday, the PAS president was reported to have said that the cash handouts in three Terengganu constituencies days before GE15 were actually donations from the public.

“If he does it, then it’s donation, but if others do it, it’s corruption,” said Zahid.

“These ulamas (religious scholars) should stop changing (their views). In the end, these political ulamas will not be respected by the public and Muslims.

“As an ulama, they must have integrity. Don’t keep changing (your views),” he said after MCA’s Chinese New Year gathering here.

Speaking to reporters after a Perikatan Nasional (PN) event in Negeri Sembilan yesterday, Hadi said that according to election laws, only candidates and their representatives are not allowed to give cash handouts.

“But if the public wants to give, that’s up to them,” he said.

However, Hadi, who is the Marang MP, did not specify who he referred to as “the public”.

He said this when asked to comment on the petitions filed by Terengganu Umno to nullify the results of GE15 for the Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Kemaman constituencies – all of which PAS won.

Earlier this week, Terengganu Umno chief Ahmad Said told reporters that the party had filed petitions to challenge the results in the three constituencies.

He noted that PN gave out money in the form of i-Siswa, i-Belia and i-Pencen to voters in Terengganu on Nov 15, 16 and 17. The money was also given to those who had returned home to vote.