KUALA LUMPUR – Government-friendly Tebrau MP Steven Choong has been given a letter from PKR demanding RM10 million following his defection on February 28.
He told Sinar Harian that he has instructed his lawyer to issue a reply to the letter, which he received on Monday.
He said he did not leave the party to support Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin with an eye to getting cabinet posts, but will consider a position in any committee that will help benefit the people.
Choong previously told The Vibes that he had been courted by Perikatan Nasional since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government last March, but he decided to join only now as the situation in his constituency has not improved.
He said many businesses in Tebrau have complained that foreign investments, especially from China, are not coming in due to bureaucratic issues in government agencies.
The lawmaker added that his attempts to meet government officials to iron out these problems were stunted as he was in the opposition.
Choong said he then decided to approach former PKR No. 2 Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is now a Bersatu member and holds the international trade and industry portfolio.
He said Azmin proposed that he join the government and act as a “middleman”.
“However, I told him that I didn’t want any ministerial or glamorous positions, and yet not have any work to do. I’m a worker, I need to do something.
“The prime minister asked me, why don’t I join and help the government, with my experience? That was when I made the decision.
“He wanted to offer me positions, but I said it must be one where I can work, and I reiterated my stand that I should not be given ministerial and glamorous posts.
“Muhyiddin said I could come in (the government) to do something. I asked how this could be done, unless I had access to ministries. The prime minister said he would work it out.” – The Vibes, March 10, 2021
