KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has alleged today that there have been attempts to persuade Perikatan Nasional (PN) federal lawmakers to defect using indirect bribes.
Hamzah claimed several of his coalition colleagues have been approached by unnamed people who tried to convince them to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by offering some form of incentives, including money and top positions in government-linked companies.
"They use the pretext of building a hotel, for example. But when they met something else was discussed instead," the Larut MP said at a press conference here.
"They say things like 'come lah you should support PM X (10th prime minister)...you can get help. You may even be appointed to GLC boards. I just want to say this to the prime minister, just stop it," he added.
"If you claim to have a two-thirds majority already, why do you need to do these things?"
When asked if PN will lodge any complaints or file a report with the police or other relevant authorities, Hamzah replied “no”. Malay Mail cannot independently verify these claims, and is seeking comments from Pakatan Harapan and Barisan Nasional.
"We're in the process of compiling information. We're taking photos of these people so we can identify who they are then we take it from there. And these things, well, they can always deny," Hamzah said.
"They can just say oh we just ask you to support PM X and then when you ask the prime minister he can just 'I don't know these people'."
Hamzah's allegations came amid confusion about the status of two Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia members of parliament who recently made a surprising public statement expressing support for Anwar.
The two are Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman of Labuan and and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid Kuala Kangsar. Hamzah said in a statement yesterday that Bersatu's disciplinary committee would decide on their fate soon, and hinted they would likely be sacked.
Bersatu leaders responded to the defections by accusing the ruling coalition government of coercing the two MPs.
Anwar has gone on record to deny he was behind the defections.
