PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz believes that the claim of his party receiving RM90 million in 1MDB-linked funds from Umno has been revived to counter the successful cooperation between both parties.

"They (Pakatan Harapan government) did not see Umno as a competitor, but when PAS initiated a number of interesting political moves – including cooperating with Umno, and facing a new government plagued by all kinds of problems – it is now seen as a major player in the country.

"That is why this slander is being revived," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Speaking to journalists in Bachok today, Nik Abduh said that the RM90 million allegation is an "old issue."

"They (political opponents) have no new issues. At the same time, people see that PAS is also cleaner.

"Therefore, they are forced to find whatever they can to attack PAS, including recycling the RM90 million claim," he said.

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In a 2016 article, Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown claimed that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak was wooing PAS ahead of the 2018 general election, and that leaders of the Islamist party had received a total of RM90 million.

PAS denied this, with its president Abdul Hadi Awang subsequently filing suit against Rewcastle-Brown. 

However, the party decided to drop the suit last week and opted for an out-of-court settlement, citing the costly legal process.

Following this, the MACC opened an investigation into the matter after receiving a report from the police. Nik Abduh is among those who have been questioned over the alleged transfer of funds.