BUTTERWORTH: Pas will assist Kepala Batas Member of Parliament Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad in settling the RM815,000 in damages and costs she has been ordered to pay to three DAP leaders for defamation.
Penang Pas information chief Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan said the party is awaiting the court's decision on Siti Mastura's application for a stay of execution on the damages and costs.
Fawwaz explained that the party's decision to help Siti Mastura stems from the risk of her being declared bankrupt if she fails to pay the amount. This would lead to her losing her parliamentary seat and triggering a costly by-election.
"After considering the cost of a by-election, which would cause far greater harm, we agreed to choose paying the fine, which has a smaller impact," he said when contacted.
"In this case, we will provide assistance, but only within our own members and without involving the public, as this is the party's responsibility.
"We want to avoid a by-election. If there is a by-election, all members will have to be mobilised, requiring significant time, energy, and resources," he added.
It has been reported that Siti Mastura could be declared bankrupt if she fails to pay the three DAP leaders—Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, and Teresa Kok—the damages and costs awarded to them.
The DAP leaders sued Siti Mastura for defamation after she linked them to the late Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.
The Penang High Court had ruled that statements made by Siti Mastura against the trio were defamatory and unsupported by evidence.