Najib: You lie, You pay

(The Sun) KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 26, 2009) : Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today warned Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen that they will be prosecuted if they make false reports or statutory declarations.

Speaking to reporters after officiating at the D-8 Minister's Meeting on Food Security here, Najib also denied Barisan Nasional (BN) had offered millions of Ringgit to the two PR assemblymen in Perak to defect.

"They will be prosecuted if they make false reports … or if their statutory declarations are abused, they will be charged as well," he said.

Describing the allegations as baseless, Najib said he did not know who the two assemblymen were, and their allegations as well.

On Wednesday, Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh of DAP and Kuala Kurau assemblyman Abdul Yunus Jamsari of Parti Keadilan Rakyat filed reports in the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office in Ipoh.

The duo claimed they were offered up to RM20 million to jump ship fom PR to BN by several agents representing Najib.

They also claimed they had evidence to show of the offer made by the BN representatives.

Asked by reporters on the claim and the MACC reports, Najib said: "Let the MACC investigate as I don't know what the allegations are. Let the commission investigate …but as I said, if they have made false reports, they will face the consequences."

Keshvinder, a lawyer-turned politician, and Abdul Yunus claimed they were offered the bribes to quit their respective parties and join BN, or become Independents who are BN-friendly.

The two politicians claimed that the agents included a local freelance journalist with a Chinese newspaper and a businessman.

While Keshvinder claimed he was offered RM20 million and the prospect of being appointed Perak MIC chief, Abdul Yunus claimed he was offered cash between RM3 million and RM8 million, as well as logging concessions if he defected.

Meanwhile, on the economy, Najib said the "timing" of the second economic stimulus package was not a factor, but rather it should serve its purpose and objective.

"I think it is more important for it (package) to be focused and targeted," he said.

"The second stimlus package has to be bigger … to achieve its target," he added.

Najib urged for patience in the rolling out of the second package to manage the economy, and assured that the tabling of the mini-Budget in Parliament on March 10 will take into account all necessary measures to face the challenges of the global economic crisis.

"We have factored in the current external environment which is deeper and more serious than anyone anticipated. Even the stimulus packages in America have not really shown any dividends yet," he said.

"So in view of the weakening and deepening crisis, the second stimulus package will have to be bigger and more comprehensive in nature," he added.