CAUGHT ON VIDEO: Defect and you get RM2 mil, BN agents tell Pakatan MP

BN agents tried to lure a Pakatan Rakyat Member of Parliament to defect by offering RM 2million, Pakatan leaders told a press conference on Thursday.

Showing a video clip, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution alleged that one of the BN agents was Zamil Ibrahim, the former Kedah Kita chief who had also been PKR Youth state chief under PKR turncoat Ezam Mohd Noor.

In the video, Zamil;s back was facing a hidden camera, but the audio was clear.

“Two million is not enough,” one of the MP’s representatives is heard saying.

“We only get loose change,” the agent alleged to be Zamil replied. His colleague then interjected, saying that projects could also be included in the defection package.

More to come

PAS MP for Shah Alam Khalid Samad, who was also at the press conference, said the camera was installed by “our team” and warned BN to be "careful" as Pakatan would not hesitate to expose the culprits publicly.

He declined to reveal the name of the MP's involved. The video had shown a group of 5 - 4 men and 1 woman.

“The whole video is three hours long. We want a response from the agent, if not we will release more information,” warned Khalid.

According to the Pakatan leaders, the clip was recorded in a Klang Valley restaurant “around the time others left PKR”.

Targeting PKR

PKR or Parti Keadilan Rakyat is often the target of BN dominant party Umno because of the intense rivalry between Prime Minister Najib Razak, the Umno president, and Anwar Ibrahim, the PKR adviser and Opposition Leader.

Since 2010, 6 MPs and five assemblymen have left PKR as Umno sought to discredit Anwar , offering enormous incentives to lure them over to the BN side of the political divide. Some of the more notorious names include Kulim Bandar Bharu's Zul Norrdin and Bayan Baru's Zahrain Hashim.

In fact, in the video clip, Zamil was heard saying that "Pak Zahrain" was also among those who accepted the RM2 million offer.

However, Zahrain has denied the accusation.

"I don't know about any video or agents. I was never made an offer to leave. I was the first and I was the only one on February 12, 2010, because I had lost confidence.  The only defection effort I know is for September 16, when the offer was RM2 million," Zahrain said.

Spitting venom

Meanwhile, Zamil has refused to deny or confirm the Pakatan accusations.

“My goal is to destroy PKR. If I succeed then I would consider it a good deed. To create havoc within PKR and put it to ruins is my dream, and to me it feels like I would be rewarded by God (ada pahala) if I do so,” he was reported as saying.

He denied he was an Umno member but in the next breath warned Saifuddin to take note that he - Zamil - was now a rich man due to his ties with Umno.

“I want to tell Saifuddin to watch his mouth. I am a professional and respect secrets between friends, even if they are in PKR or PAS, but don’t blame me if I run my mouth if they do so first,” said Zamil.

Leave BN honourably - not for the sake of money but for the people

September 16 refers to the 2008 effort by Anwar to persuade 30 BN lawmakers, mostly from East Malaysia, to cross over - thereby handing control of the federal government to the Pakatan Rakyat.

However, the plan failed as BN leaders resorted to money to block the defections. Last weekend, speculation of another September 16 bid by Anwar resurfaced but the rumor was quickly quashed.

Najib was seen moving quickly to pre-empt an exodus by offering an additional RM1.5mil in allocations to the BN lawmakers and hinting that the next general election would not take place so soon.

"We condemn the use of public money to retain the loyalty of the BN MPs. But we foresee a great exodus very soon no matter what amount Najib offers because the people have had enough. Nobody is enticing them but the BN MPs themselves know that to stay on when the elections are coming very soon is political suicide. Who would vote for them and this is their dilemma - quick money or a long-term and distinguished career in serving the people," PKR MP for Batu Tian Chua told Malaysia Chronicle.

Malaysia Chronicle