KUALA LUMPUR – Another five Bersatu MPs are tipped to declare their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration after caving in to inducements from certain figures, Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan has claimed.
This is according to a copy of the speech text of the Bersatu supreme council member’s parliamentary debate on the king’s royal address, which the Tasek Gelugor MP was unable to voice in full yesterday due to a heated backlash from government backbenchers.
Based on the script sighted by Scoop, Wan Saiful intended to say that five Bersatu MPs – one from a parliamentary constituency in Selangor and two each from Perak and Kedah – will supposedly back the unity government after receiving gratification from certain individuals.
In explaining how several unidentified figures had approached him with financial remuneration in exchange for his backing of the government, Wan Saiful’s speech text named the five constituencies whose MPs had supposedly accepted such offers.
Scoop is withholding the names of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs mentioned due to the sensitivity of the issue.
In Parliament, while attempting to speak over the verbal onslaught from incensed government lawmakers, Wan Saiful said: “There are rumours saying that some of my friends (fellow Bersatu MPs) will follow (other opposition MPs who have backed the government).”
Besides that, the document detailed how the individuals allegedly offering the inducements claimed that the Dewan Rakyat Speaker is establishing a “CSA” as a “binding contract” for Bersatu MPs who turn their backs on the opposition.
It is believed that “CSA” refers to a confidence and supply agreement.
When contacted by Scoop, Wan Saiful confirmed the authenticity of the speech text.
Currently, six Bersatu MPs have declared their support for Anwar’s administration, with the latest being Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi, who announced his backing of the government on January 24.
All six lawmakers cited the need to address the people’s problems, especially with the rising cost of living, the need for political stability, and the nation’s economic recovery as reasons for their switch in support.
Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, the fifth Bersatu MP to back Anwar’s government, had previously claimed that around 10 more of his fellow party members would lend their support to the current administration.
The lower house descended into chaos yesterday after Wan Saiful claimed that he was approached by several individuals to support Anwar’s unity government, with the figures offering a RM1.7 million federal constituency allocation and funds to cover his service centre operations.
Wan Saiful also said that while those who approached him to buy his support for Anwar went by various names, one name was constantly mentioned: “Farhan.”
The parliamentarian claimed that he was contacted repeatedly after he pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of money laundering amounting to RM5.59 million in October last year, with the unnamed individuals “guaranteeing” that the charges against him would be dropped if he supported the government.
However, Wan Saiful later retracted his claims after Johari chastised him and warned that he could be suspended from Parliament for six months if he refused to take back his statement. — February 29, 2024