'RM1.7m bribe': Wan Saiful reveals MACC's prompt response

'RM1.7m bribe': Wan Saiful reveals MACC's prompt response

Published: Feb 28, 2024 6:48 PM


Perikatan Nasional lawmaker Wan Saiful Wan Jan revealed that MACC has contacted him over his allegation of being offered a bribe to support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“In less than an hour after I spoke, I received a message from a MACC official asking me to contact them. I will oblige,” he said on Facebook.

Wan Saiful (above) asked what are the steps being taken to prevent the alleged use of public funds to bait Bersatu lawmakers.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the funds were used for the people’s welfare?” he said.

The Tasek Gelugor MP also expects his political opponents to deny and trivialise his allegation.

“It’s fine, we understand that they have to spin,” he added.

When debating the king’s decree in the Dewan Rakyat earlier, Wan Saiful ignited a commotion in the house when he claimed that among others, he was also offered an allocation of RM1.7 million for his constituency.

The opposition MP alleged that he attended several meetings with different individuals who tried to persuade him to support Anwar.

The meetings, he claimed, took place at various hotels in the Klang Valley between Jan 17 and Monday (Feb 26) and involved different individuals.

“In all the meetings, the message was that I must support Tambun (Anwar) as prime minister and I will be rewarded.

“One of the rewards offered to me was an RM1.7 million allocation for my Parliament constituency,” he alleged.

Bersatu MPs backing PM

Over the past months, six Bersatu MPs have expressed their support for Anwar’s leadership, leading the opposition to claim that threats and rewards were employed.

Bersatu, which is an Umno splinter party headed by former premier Muhyiddin Yassin, is planning to amend its constitution at its special general assembly on March 2.

On Jan 29, party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the amendment would ensure that its elected representatives toe the line.

“We have also agreed to take legal action against any elected representatives who have betrayed the party for their seats to be vacated.

"Bersatu is ready to face by-elections,” he added.

Three days earlier, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who is one of those who switched support, claimed that 10 more Bersatu MPs are prepared to do the same when Parliament reconvenes.