KUALA LUMPUR – Today’s parliament sitting witnessed an explosive start as an opposition lawmaker revealed that a police report has been lodged on alleged corruption behind several Bersatu MP’s decision to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s (Tambun-PH) leadership.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution (Senator-PH) initially said that as of this morning, the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had yet to receive any reports on alleged elements of enticement, bribes and threats relating to opposition lawmakers expressing support for Anwar.
“There are voices outside saying this and that, but the reality is that up until now, not a single report has been lodged with the police or MACC on alleged threats and bribes for MPs to support (Anwar),” Saifuddin said.
He said this in answer to a query from Onn Abu Bakar (Batu Pahat-PH) during the Minister Question Time in the lower House today.
In response, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang-PN) said that the party’s youth wing had lodged a police report on the matter around midnight.
“I’d like to correct the minister. Bersatu Youth has actually filed a police report on the pressure put on opposition MPs to support the prime minister.
“This is not empty talk or slander, we have proof,” Wan Fayhsal said, adding that a complaint to MACC will be filed next.
In addressing Wan Fayhsal’s fiery declaration, Saifuddin jokingly congratulated the opposition MP for burning the midnight candle to lodge the police report, noting that police’s acceptance of the report is proof of their professionalism.
“(The report by Bersatu Youth) is not a problem, it doesn’t change anything,” Saifuddin said, stressing that the government has consistently encouraged those with information on alleged wrongdoings to lodge official complaints on the matter.
Saifuddin also theorised that opposition MPs who have decided to back Anwar’s leadership might be due to how they are “confident” in the prime minister, who has managed to ensure political stability while working hard to repair the economy and looking after citizens’ welfare.
On Friday, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the party will lodge reports with the police and MACC on allegations of bribery and coercion to get several of its MPs to voice support for Anwar.
As of today, four Bersatu MPs have expressed their support for Anwar’s government: Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar-PN), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan-PN), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang-PN) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli-PN).
Iskandar and Suhaili have both been suspended from the party for four and six years, respectively, by the party’s disciplinary board.
All four lawmakers said that they decided to switch their support to Anwar after taking into consideration the welfare of their constituents. – November 14, 2023