Chaos in Dewan Rakyat after Bersatu MP says pressured to support PM

Chaos erupted in the Dewan Rakyat today after a Bersatu MP said he had been pressured and threatened multiple times to pledge his support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

(FMT) – Wan Saiful Wan Jan (PN-Tasek Gelugor) told the Dewan Rakyat that he had been contacted numerous times via phone by unidentified individuals, after which he agreed to meet with them.

“The first meeting was on Jan 17, 2024, at the Westin Hotel in Bukit Bintang,” he said when debating the King’s speech today.

“Then the next meeting changed to the JW Marriott hotel.”

He added that one of the individuals who had approached him during one encounter was a friend whom he did not want to name.

He said these attempts to sway his support came after he claimed trial to 18 charges of money laundering amounting to RM5.59 million in October last year.

“I was told that I must support YB Tambun (Anwar) as prime minister, and in return I would be rewarded with an allocation of RM1.7 million for my constituency, with a part of it designated for the service operation centre,” he said.

He said these efforts had continued, and that he was approached again on Monday afternoon for a meeting at Corus Hotel, Jalan Ampang.

“I had no choice but to entertain these meet-ups because I was worried that something unexpected might happen beyond my control,” he said.

His claim sparked an uproar among government MPs, with RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) urging him to lodge a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“If you’re a man, make a report to the MACC,” he said.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul also asked Wan Saiful to refrain from raising the matter again in the legislative chambers.