Recently, Pas has initiated a donation drive to assist Kepala Batas MP Siti Mastura Muhammad in settling RM825,000 in damages and costs after losing a defamation suit filed by three DAP leaders after she claimed that they were related to Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew.
Certain quarters have ridiculed this move and recalled the ‘tabung Milo’ donation, a common sight at the Islamist party's ceramics and gatherings. Such mockery smacks of hypocrisy, especially considering how PKR once depended on Pas' support in the formative years of the former.
It's worth recalling that during the early years of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), the party faced significant financial constraints. During those challenging times, PKR benefited from the support and solidarity of fellow opposition parties, including Pas. In some instances, Pas grassroots fundraising efforts played a crucial role in sustaining PKR's activities.
Observer Mohd Faisal said that during the Reformasi movement, many PKR members relied heavily on PAS for financial support. Their income often came from donations collected at political ceramah (talks), where supporters contributed whatever they could to sustain the movement.
He noted that PAS's fundraising efforts were sometimes a lifeline, particularly during emergencies. For instance, when Reformasi leaders or activists were arrested, ad hoc ceramah was swiftly organized to raise funds for bail. These impromptu gatherings were a rallying cry for justice and a practical solution to the opposition's financial challenges.
"If the PAS headquarters at Taman Melewar could speak, its walls and roof would tell countless stories of the speeches held there and the donations collected.
"At that time, Taman Melewar was the most convenient venue for hosting talks. It was owned by PAS and faced fewer restrictions from the authorities.
“Today, with PKR now in power and PAS in opposition, they mock PAS for its tradition of collecting donations,” he said.
PAS's contributions to PKR's survival during those difficult times are immeasurable. The support provided through countless ceramah and grassroots efforts laid the groundwork for PKR's eventual rise to power. Even Saifuddin Nasution, PKR Secretary-General, once had to contest under Pas's logo in Machang.
This camaraderie was evident during joint initiatives, such as appeals to help flood victims, where both parties collaborated to raise funds for humanitarian causes.
The current derision directed at PAS's fundraising efforts for Siti Mastura overlooks this shared history. Political parties, especially those in opposition, have historically relied on grassroots support and small donations to fund their activities and support their members. Mocking such efforts reveals a selective amnesia about the struggles faced by parties like PKR in their formative years.
And let's not forget that DAP MPs have also lost defamation suits. Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng was ordered to pay RM2 million in damages after losing a suit filed by a company founder.
Yeo Bee Yin and Tony Pua were involved in a defamation suit brought by former MCA deputy minister Chew Mei Fun, resulting in a court order to pay RM350,000 in damages.
The party initiated a fundraising campaign to cover these costs, which drew public criticism considering that Yeo's husband comes from a billionaire family.
Ditto for DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, who had to pay RM30,000 and RM40,000 in costs to MCA vice-president Tan Teik Cheng and Star Media Group, respectively, after he lost his appeal in a defamation suit.
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