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“I totally reject and condemn this kind of gutter politics. Hundreds of people are dying from Covid-19 each day, and yet some others can still indulge in such despicable, low-down politics,” she said, adding that the rumour could have been started to create “confusion and distrust” within PH.
Maria, Damansara MP Tony Pua and Sungai Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah have been featured in a viral poster with the words ‘Perikatan Nasional’ and ‘Three friends who enjoy durian’. They were also named in a purported news report which stated that the trio had defected to PN – and would be getting RM15 million to do so.
Maria told FMT that upon checking, she did not find any such article on the website.
“This could also be created by the enemies of PH to create confusion and distrust. Don’t make such baseless accusations!
“I am with Keadilan and Pakatan Harapan and remain committed to this struggle, and as are my colleagues YB Sivarasa Rasiah and YB Tony Pua,” she said, adding that her primary focus was on the welfare of her constituents.
FMT has also reached out to Sivarasa and Pua for comment.
The PN government reportedly has only 100 MPs on its side while 120 are against Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his administration.
Earlier this month, DAP MPs M Kula Segaran (Ipoh Barat), Dr Kelvin Yii (Bandar Kuching) and Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka) alleged they were enticed by a anonymous person to join PN with an offer of “durian RM30” – thought to be ministerial positions and a large amount of cash.
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had said his party’s MPs from the constituencies of Hulu Selangor, Kuala Kedah, Alor Setar, Balik Pulau and Setiawangsa had also been approached with similar offers to support the PN government.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last week said it had yet to identify who was behind the alleged offer and it had met the MPs to investigate their claims.
Home minister Hamzah Zainudin, meanwhile, said he wants the police to look into allegations of bribery and also investigate whether the MPs had made false reports.
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