Anwar reveals attempts to court PKR MPs

By Adib Zalkapli and Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, Jan 31 - Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today admitted that there were attempt to get PKR lawmakers to abandon the party by Chinese New Year, claiming that the move was made with the backing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Anwar alleged that several MPs, including Indera Mahkota’s Azan Ismail and Yusmadi Yusof of Balik Pulau, have been contacted by a Parti Cinta Malaysia official Huan Cheng Guan and Malaysian Ambassador to the United States Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis, who urged them to leave PKR.

“Because they did not entertain, the amount of money was never discussed,” said Anwar after the PKR central committee meeting.

Both Azan and Yusmadi were at the four-hour meeting.

Anwar said he has yet to meet Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Hashim, who is said to be leading a group of would-be defectors.

“I will only meet him next week but when I met him before the outburst I did not sense any unhappiness,” said Anwar.

Zahrain, who called Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng “dictator” and “communist-minded”, has been referred to the PKR disciplinary committee.

Azan Ismail

Meanwhile Azan told reporters the offer was made soon after he resigned as Pahang PKR deputy chief.

“I received the calls and messages immediately after my announcement last week,” he said.

Azan added that he did not know the person who called but alleged that he received short text messages from Jamaluddin.

“I didn’t know at first but later I found out it was him.”

He added that he never entertained the calls once he knew the conversation was heading towards an “offer” for him to leave PKR.

“I ended the calls because there would be no benefit to either them or me,” he said.