Streram says PKR MP's claim of unpaid debt is slander

Potential Rantau by-election candidate Dr S Streram has denied allegations by his PKR colleague, Segamat MP Edmund Santhara, that he owes the latter RM62,000.

In a police report filed by Santhara, he claimed that Streram had asked him for the money in January last year to help pay his daughter's college registration fees.

A soft copy of the police report has been making its rounds on social media. 

Santhara, who confirmed with Malaysiakini that he lodged the report, said he had loaned the sum to Streram using money from his son's education fund.

However, he claimed that cheques Streram had given him to repay the debt had bounced, and that banks had been told to cancel the cheques.

When contacted, Streram confirmed borrowing money from Santhara, but claimed to have paid it all back.

"I admit borrowing the money from Santhara (photo below), but I have paid him back in full," he said.

Streram claimed that this was slander by some quarters in PKR who want to defame him.

The allegations against Streram come three weeks before nomination day for the Rantau by-election.

Sources told Malaysiakini that Streram, who was PKR's candidate for the Negeri Sembilan state seat last year, will be fielded again on March 30.

His name was reportedly nominated by PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli at the party's political bureau meeting on Wednesday.

The source claimed that leaders aligned to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali did not nominate anyone as a possible candidate, leaving the matter to party president Anwar Ibrahim.

However, a separate source aligned to Rafizi claimed that there were other candidates being considered including Rembau PKR chief R Thanagam.

There has also been speculation that Roseli Abdul Ghani, PKR's candidate for the Rembau seat last year, could be fielded as a candidate.

On Feb 18, the Federal Court upheld a decision to void acting Umno president Mohamad Hasan's victory in Rantau.

Mohamad had won the Negeri Sembilan seat uncontested in GE14 after the returning officer prevented Streram from entering the nomination centre to file his papers, on the grounds that he was not carrying a pass.

Mohamad will defend the seat for Umno in the April 13 by-election. - Mkini