PETALING JAYA – Five PKR lawmakers have been threatened or enticed with rewards to defect from the party and join the Perikatan Nasional government, revealed Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The MPs are Natrah Ismail (Sekijang), S. Kesavan (Sg Siput), Awang Husaini Sahari (Putatan), M. Karuppaiya (Padang Serai) and Michael Teo (Miri).
Speaking at a press conference today, the PKR chief said he will send a letter tomorrow to request a meeting with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki to discuss the matter, as well as recent allegations of political persecution against opposition MPs.
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP and opposition leader, said he received multiple complaints from some of his party’s lawmakers regarding the pressure being laid against them to twist their arm into jumping ship.
“I will write to MACC chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki tomorrow to request an appointment and get his clarification. Besides YB Natrah Ismail, YB Padang Serai, Sg Siput, Putatan and Miri have been threatened or invited with many rewards and bait to support them (PN).”
He pointed out that the PN government’s actions in allegedly threatening or buying off MPs have nothing to do with politics, but are a form of deception and an abuse of power.
Despite pulling in three, or even up to six, MPs, he said, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin still lacks the majority in Parliament.
Anwar said based on simple mathematics, with 115 MPs having sent letters to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong requesting that Parliament be reconvened, Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, does not command the majority.
“I have adequate numbers,” he said when asked if he still has “convincing” numbers. – The Vibes, March 16, 2021
