Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) Deputy President Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man today defended the decision to grant a specific procedural waiver to businessman Zaharudin bin Abdullah, emphasizing that the action was taken only after stringent internal reviews and was necessary to prevent operational delays in a critical infrastructure project. Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, Tuan Ibrahim sought to quell mounting public speculation and scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest, asserting that the party remains committed to transparency and adherence to its internal guidelines governing financial declarations.
Rationale Behind the Exemption
Tuan Ibrahim clarified that the waiver in question pertains specifically to the immediate declaration timeline required under the party’s internal code of conduct for high-value transactions involving associates of key leadership figures. He stressed that while the full financial declaration will still be submitted, the short-term exemption was granted due to the urgency of securing the specific infrastructure contract.
He stated that Zaharudin, who is understood to be a close associate of several party members, required the exemption to meet a tight deadline imposed by an external regulatory body, without which the entire project bidding process would have been jeopardized.
We understand the need for full transparency, especially when large sums of money are involved, Tuan Ibrahim told reporters. However, this was a matter of timing. The integrity of the projectwhich involves crucial national infrastructurewas deemed paramount in this specific instance.
The exemption was approved by a special three-member internal committee formed specifically to assess high-risk financial declarations, ensuring that the decision was not unilaterally made by a single leader, he confirmed.
Adherence to Internal Regulations
The Deputy President meticulously outlined the internal procedural steps taken before the waiver was granted, emphasizing that the partys constitution allows for such temporary exemptions under extraordinary circumstances, provided they are documented and subject to later review.
He confirmed that the committee reviewed documentation proving Zaharudins necessity to secure financing immediately, which conflicted with the mandatory 30-day cooling-off period required for disclosure under PAS regulations.
This is not a blanket immunity or a permanent escape from scrutiny. It is a temporary measure designed purely to protect the states interest in securing this project, Tuan Ibrahim insisted, adding that all declaration forms are expected to be fully completed and filed within the next two weeks.
He challenged critics to provide evidence of corruption or misuse of power, rather than relying on procedural technicalities to launch baseless attacks against the partys leadership integrity. The focus, he argued, should remain on the benefits of the infrastructure project itself.
Growing Political Pressure
The clarification comes amid intense pressure from opposition blocs, who have labeled the waiver as a clear example of double standards and lack of commitment to anti-corruption principles touted by the ruling coalition.
Chief among the critics has been Democratic Action Party (DAP) Secretary-General Anthony Loke, who questioned why standard rules could be bent for politically linked individuals, regardless of the claimed urgency of the business deal.
Loke had previously issued a public statement demanding immediate publication of all communication logs related to the waiver application, arguing that public confidence required more than just verbal assurances from party leaders.
In response, Tuan Ibrahim maintained that the information released today provides sufficient detail to satisfy public curiosity while respecting the confidentiality clauses inherent in government contracting processes. He suggested that the opposition was engaging in political opportunism.
The opposition is attempting to turn a simple procedural delay mechanism into a scandal. We remain focused on governance, not political melodrama, he concluded, reiterating that the full declaration will be made public once the mandatory internal audit process is completed, fulfilling all requirements set forth by the partys integrity unit.