Kota Melaka MP Khoo Poay Tiong of the DAP (above) has questioned whether former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik plans to sue the people of Malacca for criticising his plan to join Bersatu.

The lawmaker was referring to Rahim's statement that he was contemplating legal action against Khoo for claiming that he was a scandal-plagued leader and for urging Bersatu to reject Rahim's membership application.

"As a representative of the people, it is my responsibility to highlight the voice of the people.

“Many Malaccans, including those not part of any political party, have stated that they rejected Rahim Thamby Chik's inclusion into Pakatan Harapan as he has been (allegedly) involved in many scandals.

"Will Rahim sue all the people of Malacca that have stated this opinion?" Khoo asked on Facebook today.

He reiterated that former BN and Umno leaders hopping into the Pakatan Harapan coalition went against the wishes of the people who had rejected BN in the 14th general election.

Along with some 100 former Umno members, Rahim had on Sunday submitted his application to join Bersatu to Malacca Bersatu chief Redzuan Yusof.

This did not sit well with certain quarters, including several DAP representatives, who accused Rahim, who served as the state's sixth chief minister for 12 years, of being part of the 'Datuk Trio'.

This group gained notoriety after they screened a sex video to journalists in 2011 claiming that the clip showed PKR president Anwar Ibrahim allegedly with a prostitute. Anwar has denied this.

Khoo also pointed out that Rahim had been investigated for rape of a minor in 1994, although the case was later dropped due to a lack of evidence.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (photo) has also questioned how Harapan could ever work with Rahim, especially after the latter had threatened to sue Khoo.

Prime Minister and Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohammad has been under pressure from civil groups and fellow Harapan leaders after accepting several former Umno lawmakers into the party.

Several other former Umno leaders have also expressed their intention to join Bersatu following the spate of defections from Umno since the last general election.

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Mahathir gave his assurance that Bersatu would seriously vet all applicants first and that Umno would not be "taking over" the party.

DAP, PKR attempted to meddle in Bersatu's business, says Rahim

Don't become 'cheap' – Kadir on Bersatu recruiting ex-Umno leaders