PKR MP says his son was called to get him to quit party

 

Padang Serai MP M Karupaiya says he will remain loyal to his party.

PETALING JAYA: Following failed attempts to get him to switch sides, PKR’s M Karupaiya claims his family members are now being approached to persuade him to quit his party and support Perikatan Nasional (PN).

Speaking to FMT, Karupaiya said his son received a call yesterday.

“After I said I was not interested (in the incentives), they talked to my son and asked him to approach me to change my mind.

“But my son told them ‘even if you give him RM50 million, he won’t be going anywhere’.”

The Padang Serai MP was unsure how the caller managed to obtain his son’s contact details, but said several politicians knew that his son was based in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that he was not sure if any other MPs from PKR had similar experiences.

Previously, Karupaiya was reported to have said that he received two calls on Sunday from a man who only identified himself as “Azhar”.

He said “Azhar” had asked him to join PPBM so that he would have access to more funds for his constituency and contracts for himself.

“But I refused. I told him I was loyal to my party.”

He said he immediately informed his party’s leadership, after which PKR president Anwar Ibrahim held a press conference to reveal that four MPs were being offered money to back the government.

Apart from Karupaiya, the other MPs named by Anwar were Sungai Siput’s S Kesavan, Putatan’s Awang Husaini and Miri’s Michael Teo. Sekijang MP Natrah Ismail had earlier lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) saying that she had been asked to switch sides.

Asked why he did not lodge a report with MACC, Karupaiya said there was the possibility it could have been a prank call.

He also claimed “agents” may have been hired to persuade opposition MPs to support PN in exchange for a “bonus”.

Karupaiya said he was worried that those who made the calls would now attempt to frame him through a corruption case.

“I am also scared of threats. Maybe they might put a bag of money in my car and say I had accepted bribes. Anything can happen now.”

He added that he would remain alert, while continuing to focus on serving his constituency. - FMT