Independent Padang Serai parliamentarian N Gobalakrishnan has initiated legal action against PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution over the latter’s accusations that he was paid RM1.4 million to defect.

NONE “I am instituting legal action against YB Machang (Saifuddin), a notice of demand for libel, for his press statement stating that I was paid to betray the party,” said Gobalakrishnan ( left ) at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

The legal notice, which he plans to serve to Saifuddin in the House today, gives the Machang MP seven days from today to issue a retraction and an apology, failing which Gobalakrishnan has instructed his lawyers to file a defamation suit against the PKR secretary-general.

“The statement questioned our client’s integrity and honesty by saying that our client has suddenly become rich after leaving the party, suggesting that our client had left the party after monetary rewards were given to him.

“Our client found the statements are factually wrong and were an attempt to assassinate our client’s political career and an attempt to portray our client as a greedy, opportunistic and unprincipled politician,” said the letter, which Gobalakrishnan read out to reporters.

He added that the suit, if it goes through, will be for RM12 million.

Asked why he was asking for such an amount, he said this is RM1 million for each year he was a PKR member.

“I have been in PKR for 12 years. That was how long I was cheated... they say keadilan (justice) for all, but when Saifuddin uttered those statements, where was justice for me?”

Gobalakrishnan was accompanied by his lawyer, T Suresh.

‘See you in court’

When approached by reporters in the Parliament lobby, Saifuddin was unperturbed.

“He can do what he want. It’s his right. Let the court decide. Whether I will have to pay or not, how would I know?” he said.

Asked if he would issue a public apology, he flatly refused.

NONE “No. Why should I apologise? What should I apologise for? I have established my facts on the transaction. I saw he had a statement, but he seemed rattled,” the PKR leader said.

Saifuddin ( right ) also said that he had evidence that Gobalakrishnan was personally involved in the deal and not his family members as Gobalakrishnan had claimed.

“We shall deal with him in court. He is lying. Let him fight. Se you in court,” said Saifuddin.

Last week, Saifuddin had issued a press statement accusing Gobalakrishnan of being paid to defect and mount attacks against PKR leaders.

As 'proof' of the now Independent MP’s new-found wealth, he provided two recently-issued Hong Leong Bank cheques worth RM1.4 million which he said originated from a company that Gobalakrishnan owns.

Gobalakrishnan, however, has refuted the claims, saying that the money was from a contractor instead and that the land belonged to his family, not himself.