Azmin questions Saifuddin's anti-graft commitment in veiled swipe at Guan Eng
A group of lawmakers aligned to Bersatu's Senior Minister Azmin Ali threw shade at PKR's assertions that Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar defected due to pressure from the MACC.
In a joint statement, the group also questioned PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's commitment to combating graft, in a veiled swipe at DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
"If Saifudin is honest and sincere about upholding the law and the battle against corruption, why has he been keeping mum on a corruption case involving a prominent Pakatan Harapan leader in which...
A group of lawmakers aligned to Bersatu's Senior Minister Azmin Ali threw shade at PKR's assertions that Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar defected due to pressure from the MACC.
In a joint statement, the group also questioned PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail's commitment to combating graft, in a veiled swipe at DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
"If Saifudin is honest and sincere about upholding the law and the battle against corruption, why has he been keeping mum on a corruption case involving a prominent Pakatan Harapan leader, in which the case was abruptly dropped during trial?
"It was very frustrating and worrying to MACC and the public," the statement read.
The statement was referring to Lim's acquittal from two graft charges in September 2018 over the alleged conversion of state land status and purchase of a bungalow at below market value.
However, two years later, Lim was slapped with four charges in relation to the construction of the undersea tunnel project in Penang. His trial will start in June.
The statement was signed by Azmin, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah, Batu Pahat MP Rashid Hasnon, Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamaruddin Jaffar, Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman, Segamat MP Santhara Kumar, Saratok MP Ali Biju, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, and Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin.
Previously, Saifuddin claimed that the government had orchestrated plans to garner support from opposition MPs using bait and threats from the authorities.
Prior to Xavier's defection, two PKR lawmakers - Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong - quit the party and announced their support to the government.
For the record, MACC had arrested a Perak PKR deputy chief whom Xavier said is a close family friend.
MACC also froze the accounts of a company and two directors linked to the alleged corruption scandal totalling RM77 million.
In a jab against Saifuddin, Azmin and his faction said the Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP does not have the moral position to champion the debate on defections.
"He himself had several times jumped from Umno to PKR, from PKR to PAS, and from PAS back to PKR.
"Compared to Xavier, who was elected as PKR deputy president, Saifuddin's position is weak as he was appointed (to his party position)."
They added that Saifuddin was only speaking out on behalf of PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.
As for the former PKR trio who defected, the Gombak MP and his allies said the three had come to realise that the government had been responsible for curbing the Covid-19 outbreak by spending RM320 billion for the people's interest and reigniting the economy.
As for PKR, they said that many party members had rejected Anwar as PKR had lost track of its fight and idealism.
"This is very unfortunate as we know there are leaders and members of the party who hold true to the principle and the idealism but they were sidelined and fell victim to the power of the president.
"They should persevere in their fight but the traitors had snatched the reform agenda from them for their personal interest, family, and cronies," the statement read.
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