IPOH, 2 Feb 2009: The claim that the Barisan Nasional (BN is offering RM25 million to each Pakatan Rakyat state assemblyperson and member of parliament to cross over to any of its component parties is absurd, said a political scientist.
Senior lecturer of the Social Science Studies Centre, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said the claim, made in a statutory declaration today by a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division head, was illogical.
Sivamurugan said it would be better for the BN to utilise such a large sum of money on projects that would benefit the people, particularly development projects that would give an edge to the component parties, rather than buying two Pakatan Rakyat assemblypersons.
“Why spend RM50 million on two assemblypersons? It’s something that is irrational and a wild allegation by the Pakatan Rakyat against the BN. And if, on the other hand, the BN did make such an offer, it would leave a negative image on its component parties,” he told Bernama when asked to comment on the claim by the PKR leader.
Ipoh Barat PKR division head Fauzi Muda, in his statutory declaration made before Commissioner of Oaths Yong Yoke Thye, here today, claimed that he had received an offer of RM50 million from the BN to bring in at least two Perak state assemblypersons, particularly from the PKR, to join Umno or become an Independent after the March 2008 general election.
Fauzi also claimed that he was recently offered RM5 for himself and another RM5 million each to the two Perak State Executive Councillors (Exco members), namely the PKR assemblyperson for Changkat Jering, Mohd Osman Jailu, and the PKR assemblyperson for Behrang, Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi, to defect.
Sivamurugan said such a wild accusation would only give a negative impact on the Pakatan Rakyat if it were proven that the allegation was untrue.
“The Pakatan allegation shows that they are not prepared to accept the fact that there are leaders within the party who wish to defect. The allegations about the RM50 million offer appears to divert attention on the issue over the leaders’ intention to cross over to the BN,” he said.
“The opposition must accept the fact that if they can woo BN assemblypersons to join them, the BN too can do likewise,” he said.
Political immaturity
For Sivamurugan, the claim made by the PKR leader reflected “their immaturity in politics” and the use of the statutory declaration showed “their obsession in politics to the extent that they are willing to ignore the ethics concerning statutory declarations”.
The claim by the PKR that the BN had offered to buy the two State Exco members cropped up following the controversy over the status of Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman as PKR assemblypersons.
Perak state assembly speaker V Sivakumar announced yesterday that both men had tendered in their resignations, a claim that Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman deny.
For the Perak Pakatan Rakyat state government, their position is becoming more critical because the number of seats separating the coalition from the BN is minimal, and any defection by its assemblypersons would jeopardise the coalition’s position.
Currently, the Perak Pakatan Rakyat has 32 assemblypersons including the Bota assemblyperson, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim, who defected to the PKR last week while the BN has 27 assemblypersons.
Tomorrow, the EC will discuss the status of Jamaluddin and Mohd Osman. Meanwhile, Perak PR is now making preparations to face the possibility of a by-election in both state constituencies. — Bernama
Singam says
Illogical? According to what school of logic? Hasn’t Sivamurugan been reading the news? Oh, perhaps he only follows the BN-controlled mainstream media.
Then he should take the time to read the alternative media and learn about the rampant corruption and intimidation that is tearing party politics apart. He should read about the vast sums paid out during the PP and KT by-elections.
Hmmm, maybe he prefers to watch television rather than read. Or perhaps he is not familiar with the Internet or has no Internet access.
It is shameful that an academic appears to be so out of touch with the political realities in this country. Is this a reflection of our institutions of higher learning? Or is he merely another paid mouthpiece of the BN?
Bob K says
That’s a lot of presumption of goodwill on the part of some Barisan Nasional leaders here. Unfortunately, it’s this goodwill that’s being disputed right now. Surely a credible academic would be able to deduce that right now. Instead, one chooses to dispute the other side’s goodwill. Academic ke politikus ni?
Observer says
I believe the writer is much more out of sync with the real world of politics to come out with this “illogical” claim that there would not be such a happening .
The amount of money poured in to just a by-election was computed to be close to a billion ringgit and what is 50 million ringgit for getting two assemblymen to cross-over with the prospect of forming the next government?
vinnan says
It is easier and quicker to buy politicians, do not pretend to be so naive.