IT is a coincidence that Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar resigned from PKR just a month after he was linked to a case investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said former prime minister Najib Razak.

In a Facebook post, Najib cited several news reports of a MACC investigation involving Perak PKR deputy chairman M.A. Tinagaran, who was arrested for graft last month.

“YB (Xavier) was linked to the MACC case where his good friend was arrested, in which RM1.2 million in cash was seized, RM77 million in bank accounts were frozen and several luxury cars confiscated.

“This is last month’s news, maybe his resignation has nothing to do with it,” Najib said sarcastically.

Tinagaran was detained by MACC last month over suspicions of accepting bribes from several companies for a project awarded to it by the water, land, and natural resources ministry in 2019 when Xavier was its minister.

MACC had said the man arrested was linked to Xavier. However, the former minister reiterated that Tinagaran was just a close relative and not his aide, as previously reported.

Today, Xavier announced his resignation from PKR and said he would continue to serve his constituency and support the current government as an independent MP.

The Kuala Langat MP’s resignation comes after two other PKR elected reps, Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong, quit the party last month and declared their support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. – March 13, 2021.