A BERSATU MP who declared support for the unity government, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, said he would sue the party’s information chief for slander, reported Malaysiakini.

The Gua Musang MP reportedly said he would sue Razali Idris for alleging Azizi was bribed into declaring support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, going against the opposition’s stance.

Azizi, who denied being offered any gratification for switching support, said Razali’s accusation was slanderous.

“I will file a summons against him (Razali) for accusing me of receiving a bribe,” he was quoted as saying.

Azizi was one of four Bersatu MPs who declared support for Anwar and the unity government in return for development funds for their constituencies. They however remain Bersatu members as they did not breach the anti-party hopping law.

The other three were Kuala Kangsar MP Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik.

On November 11, Razali claimed graft was involved in inducing the four Bersatu MPs to declare support for Anwar.

“In their case, we believe there were inducements… We are considering legal action, including lodging a report with the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission),” Razali said.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin had said Azizi informed the party of the favours he was promised for supporting Anwar, which the Gua Musang MP declined.

“But after three days, he expressed his support (for Anwar). We suspect something is going on that violates the rules,” Muhyiddin said.

The former prime minister said there was intimidation in Iskandar’s case.

Kelantan Bersatu information chief Bahari Mohamad Nor claimed Azizi said a political broker was promising generous monetary offers and other benefits to opposition MPs who declared support for Anwar.

But Azizi denied the claim and said he would address the accusations in a statement.

“The state (leader) twisted my words. I said something else, but they interpreted it differently,” he said.

Yesterday, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal said there were two people responsible for drawing away opposition MPs – a “Datuk Botak” and Anwar’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador.

Farhash denied the claim, saying he would take legal action against Wan Fayhsal.

Bersatu suspended Iskandar for four years and Suhaili for six. The party’s decision on the remaining two is expected soon. – November 15, 2023.