[S. Mahfuz/BenarNews]
Days after the vice president of his party quit and announced support for the ruling coalition, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday alleged that five lawmakers had been threatened or offered “enticements” to do the same, ahead of general elections expected this year.
Anwar also said that his party’s talks with Malaysia’s oldest party, UMNO – which has announced it will split from the ruling coalition in the next elections – about joining forces in the polls are at a very preliminary stage.
Anwar said that five MPs from the party he heads, People’s Justice Party (PKR), were approached with offers to switch sides. He listed them as Natrah Ismail, M. Karupaiya, Kesavan Subramaniam, Awang Husairi Sahari and Michael Teo.
PETALING JAYA: As someone who has known Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar for a long time, PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail says the former’s decision to leave the party raises “many queries”.
“What differentiates a true reformist from others is the strength in facing challenges in good and in trying times, ” he said.
He said the Kuala Langat MP had informed party leaders about a recent investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
On Feb 17, he had complained that his reputation as an elected representative was being sullied by media reports linking him to a party colleague who was being investigated for graft.