Not quite ‘durian’, but I got overtures too, says Prabakaran
PKR’s Batu MP says he wasn’t offered anything concrete but has been tapped to switch sides
P. Prabakaran was summoned by police today for partaking in last Monday’s march on Parliament. He claims many have tried to persuade him to defect and prop up the current government. – P. Prabakaran Twitter pic, August 9, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – Another opposition MP has alleged that there were offers made by certain parties to entice him to jump ship to support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
In a press conference, today, Batu MP P. Prabakaran claimed that there were efforts made to persuade him to change his allegiance.
“Members of the press have asked me if there’s been anyone who has negotiated with me about ‘durians’. I was not party to any negotiations or proposals.
“However, many have (tried to) persuade me.
“They only (tried to) persuade me but did not offer me anything, so I rejected them. I said no because this is not just a personal matter, but one of national interest and for the sake of the rakyat,” the PKR lawmaker told the waiting press outside Dang Wangi police station, today.
Earlier today, Prabakaran was summoned to the police station to give his statement on last Monday’s march towards Parliament.
Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan (PH) revealed that at least seven of its MPs have been offered positions and inducements in exchange for their support of the PN government.
In a statement, the PH presidential council said the MPs were Cha Kee Chin (Rasah), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baharu), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Azman Ismail (Kuala Kedah), and Chan Ming Kai (Alor Setar).
Last Saturday, Kula Segaran said in a statement that one of his officers received a “random call followed by WhatsApp messages” from an unidentified party offering him money, a ministerial position and other incentives in exchange for him to support the PN-led government.
His secretary, Jeremy Chuah, has since lodged a police report on the matter.
Meanwhile, Khoo Poay Tiong and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii also made similar allegations.
Dr Kelvin took to Twitter to share a screenshot of Whatsapp messages from an unknown number which pointed out that two ministerial positions were vacant following Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and Datuk Noraini Ahmad’s departure from their respective positions as energy and natural resources minister and higher education minister.
Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik also shared how he was confronted by a mysterious caller with an unknown number aking for him to cross over to the ruling PN coalition, with a promise of a full ministerial post.
The Penang PKR chief added that the caller implied that it was a “durian” initiative.
Today, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it has met the three DAP MPs who alleged that they were offered inducements and positions in exchange for them supporting the PN government.
However, the anti-graft agency said it has yet to identify the owner of a mobile number allegedly used to entice three DAP lawmakers to jump ship in its initial investigations.
In a statement, MACC said it is taking the matter seriously and is investigating the allegations made by the opposition lawmakers. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR – Another opposition MP has alleged that there were offers made by certain parties to entice him to jump ship to support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.
In a press conference, today, Batu MP P. Prabakaran claimed that there were efforts made to persuade him to change his allegiance.
“Members of the press have asked me if there’s been anyone who has negotiated with me about ‘durians’. I was not party to any negotiations or proposals.
“However, many have (tried to) persuade me.
“They only (tried to) persuade me but did not offer me anything, so I rejected them. I said no because this is not just a personal matter, but one of national interest and for the sake of the rakyat,” the PKR lawmaker told the waiting press outside Dang Wangi police station, today.
Earlier today, Prabakaran was summoned to the police station to give his statement on last Monday’s march towards Parliament.
Yesterday, Pakatan Harapan (PH) revealed that at least seven of its MPs have been offered positions and inducements in exchange for their support of the PN government.
In a statement, the PH presidential council said the MPs were Cha Kee Chin (Rasah), Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka), M. Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baharu), Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (Setiawangsa), Azman Ismail (Kuala Kedah), and Chan Ming Kai (Alor Setar).
Last Saturday, Kula Segaran said in a statement that one of his officers received a “random call followed by WhatsApp messages” from an unidentified party offering him money, a ministerial position and other incentives in exchange for him to support the PN-led government.
His secretary, Jeremy Chuah, has since lodged a police report on the matter.
Meanwhile, Khoo Poay Tiong and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii also made similar allegations.
Dr Kelvin took to Twitter to share a screenshot of Whatsapp messages from an unknown number which pointed out that two ministerial positions were vacant following Datuk Seri Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and Datuk Noraini Ahmad’s departure from their respective positions as energy and natural resources minister and higher education minister.
Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik also shared how he was confronted by a mysterious caller with an unknown number aking for him to cross over to the ruling PN coalition, with a promise of a full ministerial post.
The Penang PKR chief added that the caller implied that it was a “durian” initiative.
Today, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said it has met the three DAP MPs who alleged that they were offered inducements and positions in exchange for them supporting the PN government.
However, the anti-graft agency said it has yet to identify the owner of a mobile number allegedly used to entice three DAP lawmakers to jump ship in its initial investigations.
In a statement, MACC said it is taking the matter seriously and is investigating the allegations made by the opposition lawmakers. – The Vibes, August 9, 2021
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