KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu Supreme Council member Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has contacted him regarding his claims of being offered RM1.7 million in inducements to support the prime minister.
In a Facebook post today, Wan Saiful said that shortly after claiming that he was offered financial remuneration to support Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, a representative from the MACC reached out to him via text message.
“Within an hour after my speech, I got a message from an MACC officer asking me to contact (the anti-graft body). I will comply.
“I just want to ask what action will be taken to stop the misuse of public funds as bait for Bersatu MPs. Wouldn’t it be more beneficial if the funds were allocated to enhance the well-being of the people?” the Tasek Gelugor MP asked in his post.
Earlier today, Wan Saiful’s claims in Parliament prompted an immediate outcry from government backbenchers, who stood up to interject his speech while telling him to restate his claims outside the Dewan Rakyat, where MPs do not have immunity for things said inside Parliament.
Under the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 and the Federal Constitution, MPs enjoy legal immunity for statements made in Parliament.
Wan Saiful said that the offers he received included a RM1.7 million federal constituency allocation, funds to cover his service centre operations, and allocations for constituency projects.
The Bersatu MP was debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address today when he launched into claims about being contacted on the phone by individuals asking to meet him.
He said that he felt “forced” to entertain the individuals as they have “power”, noting that he has records of their modus operandi.
However, Wan Saiful later retracted his claims after Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul chastised him and warned that he could be suspended from Parliament for six months if the lawmaker refused to take back his statement. – February 28, 2024