A Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) Youth leader today claimed he was offered RM500,000 to defect to Umno.

Perak Youth chief Zoolhilmi Yahya said part of the money was given to him by an Umno-linked businessman after a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak at his residence in Kuala Lumpur last night.

He added that the rest would have been paid in stages after he performed several tasks and this included handing his application to join Umno to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya today.

However, the lawyer-cum-politician refused to reveal the amount that was paid up-front but sources claimed that it was RM25,000.

"Other duties included announcing publicly my resignation from Keadilan in Kepala Batas this Saturday, where Abdullah is scheduled to make his weekly visit," said Zoolhilmi, when met at about 1.30am.

"I was told to lie low for about three months, where I would be supported financially, after which I would be given a job in Pahang," he added.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that 12 Keadilan members were expected to announce their decision to cross over to Umno in Abdullah's presence this morning.

Two-hour discussion

Led by Youth vice-president Zahid Md Arip, the group also comprises sacked Youth secretary Lokman Noor Adam, Negeri Sembilan chief Ruslan Kassim, Terengganu Youth chief and exco member Fakhrul Azman Abu Bakar, former Youth vice-chairperson Hamdan Taha and Seruan Keadilan editor Hanapiah Man.

Meanwhile, Zoolhilmi said the group had checked in to a hotel in Kuala Lumpur yesterday afternoon and were brought to Najib's residence at about 7pm, where they discussed the matter for about two hours.

After the group had agreed to the terms of condition laid down by the deputy premier, they were allegedly handed brown envelopes containing the cash by one of the four businessmen who were present.

"We were later sent back to the hotel and told that we would be brought to Putrajaya at about 7am this morning," said Zoolhilmi.

"But I did not stay with them as my wife was with me. As there were no more vacant rooms, I was sent to another hotel (located nearby)," he added.

'Direct-selling' meet

However when met later, Hanapiah denied there was a meeting with the deputy premier.

The party organ editor, who was accompanied by Hamdan, claimed that the group were at the hotel to discuss about 'direct selling'.

At about 2.30am, a Keadilan supreme council member and a former PRM Perak-based leader who requested anonymity met with Zoolhilmi.

"I was afraid and confused and worried for my wife. I did not know what to do or think," he told the duo.

An hour later, the two leaders took Zoolhilmi and his wife to another hotel nearby, where they were met by two other Keadilan members who later accompanied the couple back to the party headquarters in Shah Alam.

Contacted later, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mod Noor said Zoolhilmi is currently with him and he is planning to make a statutory declaration on the matter this evening.

"We have evidence that Umno is playing money politics to lure our members to join them.

"After the declaration is made, we will wait for advice from our lawyers for further action. We will also raise this issue at the next supreme council meeting," he added.

Later in the day, Ezam held a press conference with Zoolhilmi where the statutory declaration was distributed to the media.

When contacted, one of Najib's aide neither confirmed nor denied the meeting.

'I am not privy to such matter," he said.

Expected move

Meanwhile, Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Ismail said that the party would not suffer from the defection.

"This defection was expected as these people have been inactive for quite some time now and of late had shown no commitment towards the party," she said in a statement.

She added that such defections were normal, especially with the impending general election.

"I am more thankful that the remaining leaders and members are still keenly pursuing our political struggle even though they may have been tempted by certain quarters with all forms of inducement to give up."