XAVIER Jayakumar is being hounded in social media with users questioning if his defection from PKR to support Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was to get him off the hook in a graft investigation linked to his former ministry.

At noon today, more than 800 had posted nasty comments on the former PKR vice-president’s defection.

A Facebooker who goes by the name Nor Muzakkir Nor Ayob asked the Kuala Langat MP if his decision to defect was borne out of extreme frustration or “was really frustrated at the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) investigations?

“So you joined PN (the ruling Perikatan Nasional government)? Not surprised if those investigations went quiet now,” Nor Muzakkir added.

“Ya. So easily frustrated?” asked Lee Heng Choon.

Another user, CH Lim, said: “Seems your aide doing very well with the sand biz. How about you? Should be better now because all your frustration will be all gone, right?”

“Finally, your case (is) settled… Good job froggie! Your family should (be) ashamed of you!!!” wrote CH Lim.

Earlier today Xavier, who was water, land and natural resources minister under the Pakatan Harapan administration, announced he was leaving the party immediately to stand as a government-friendly independent.

He said he had grown extremely frustrated following the events of the past year.

The opposition was pressing for elections when it should be helping the government combat the Covid-19 pandemic, he had said.

Facebook user Gopinathan Pillai, however, was less blunt – albeit a bit more sarcastic – in his posting.

Gopinathan said the corruption charges are questionable.

“But this move, the perception took a big swing. I think it’s a good thing you leaped over. At least the current opposition will be cleaner,” Gopinathan said.

Xavier’s departure follows the arrest of Perak PKR deputy chairman M.A. Tinagaran last month over graft allegations. Tinagaran was said to the special aide to Xavier – although the latter has since denied this.

Xavier’s Facebook page was also littered with condemnation and prayers for God to “have no mercy on your soul on the day of judgment”.

One of his friends going by the name Tengku Saiffuddin Tengku Abdullah wrote that “those of us whom you betray will seek full payment on that day”.

“Pray you live forever because you would not want to die.”

The postings also had expressions of disappointment.

“Wasted my vote,” Facebooker Soon Hong Lim wrote in an angry reaction.

“Who pick (sic) you to resign?... you are such a disappointment.”

Raja Y Kloop Liv reacted similarly when he said it was really a waste to vote for Xavier in the 12th and 13th general elections.

“Really didn’t expect from you Yb…. dishonest person.”

David Tian posted that if Xavier has any principles, he should vacate his seat now.

Meanwhile PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail alleged that the PN government was using both threats and baits to induce opposition lawmakers to switch sides.

Saifuddin said Xavier recently met with the PKR leadership to inform them the MACC was targeting him after detaining his political secretary, private secretary and several others in an investigation.

“Subsequently Xavier was also contacted by a senior minister and warned that he should support PN or face serious consequences,” Saifuddin had said. – March 13, 2021.