THE Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) has met with three DAP lawmakers who alleged they were offered money and ministerial positions to join Perikatan Nasional (PN).

The three were said to have received the offer through a WhatsApp message but the anti-graft agency said it has yet to identify the owner of the phone number.

“We view allegations that DAP lawmakers received offers of cash and ministerial positions to defect as a serious matter,” MACC said in a statement.

“To date, three DAP MPs have had their statements recorded to facilitate investigations.

“However, we have yet to identify the owner of the phone number from which messages were sent to the MPs.

“The MACC will continue probing the matter and a thorough investigation is underway.”

Ipoh Barat MP M. Kula Segaran, Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong and Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii revealed they were offered money and other incentives in exchange for supporting the PN government.

Kula Segaran said one of his officers had received a “random call followed by WhatsApp messages” from an unidentified party offering him money, a ministerial position and other incentives for his support the ruling administration.

Meanwhile, Khoo and Yii stated the unknown person pointed out there were two vacant ministerial positions after Umno’s Noraini Ahmad and Shamsul Anuar Nasarah had resigned as higher education minister, and energy and natural resources minister respectively.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail also took to social media to allege that some MPs from his party had received the same message.

He had reportedly said PKR MPs in the constituencies of Hulu Selangor, Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar, Balik Pulau and Setiawangsa were among those offered cash and other incentives in exchange for their support for the PN government.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s position is looking increasingly precarious after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he had presented Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah with a list of Umno MPs who had agreed to withdraw support for Muhyiddin.

Muhyiddin has countered, producing his own phalanx of supporting Umno MPs and saying he would not resign, but instead face a confidence vote in the September Parliament sitting. – August 9, 2021.