Bersatu issued a seven-day ultimatum to the MACC today to inform the party of the status of a bribe case involving a former party member.

If the anti-graft body failed to do so, Bersatu's lawyer Haniff Khatri Abdulla told a press conference that the party will take legal action against MACC, including suing it for misfeasance in public office.

The party has sent a legal notice to MACC this evening and given the latter until 5pm on March 2 to respond, according to him.

This was after Bersatu discovered that the ex-Bersatu Srikandi leader, who allegedly attempted to bribe party members and was arrested on Feb 5 by MACC, appeared at a protest held to pressure the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to act against Bersatu.

The protest was purportedly attended by some 1,000 Bersatu members at the Home Ministry in Putrajaya.

The Feb 5 arrest was made by MACC when the suspect handed out money to Perlis Srikandi chief Baridah Che Nayan, he elaborated.

Action could be taken under Section 16 and Section 17 of MACC Act, which carries a maximum jail's sentence of 20 years, he said.

MACC would be failing in its responsibility if no action was taken in this case following which Bersatu or Baridah could take civil action against the graft-buster, according to him.

"But up until today, MACC has yet to come back to us with any update and feedback (of the status of the case)," he said.

"Is MACC serious in (probing) this case? What was its purpose of remaining mum?" he asked.

Showing an image of yesterday's protest, Haniff said the woman arrested had attended the protest.

"How can a suspect nabbed on Feb 5 be able to join yesterday's protest freely? MACC should answer," he said.

According to him, Bersatu had been cooperative with MACC as Baridah had appeared at MACC to give her statement three times while the party secretary-general Shahruddin Mohd Salleh also furnished details.

Haniff also named the suspect during the press conference and elaborated how she attempted to bribe Baridah.

'Media conspiring'

According to Haniff, on the eve of the arrest, Baridah had approached 'Operasi Banteras Dedak', a team formed to deal with complaints about leaders who were approached to quit the party via lucrative offers.

Bersatu then held a press conference to follow-up on the matter on Feb 11 and 14, he said.

Present at today's press conference were Baridah and Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir (above).

When the floor was opened to reporters for a question-and-answer session, Mukhriz chided the media for not giving enough coverage to the issue.

This was after a journalist asked him about the status of Pakatan Harapan's seat negotiations in Kedah.

"We had issued a statement thrice but for this issue, we were not given appropriate coverage by the media," he said.

"If the media are not covering this case, then they are conspiring with Umno," he said to cheers from Bersatu members who were present.