Three Bornean Bersatu Mps Is Harapan Cooperating With Kleptocrats

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Three Bersatu MPs from East Malaysia have challenged Pakatan Harapan to state whether the coalition plans to cooperate with "kleptocrats".
The trio (above, L-R) - Saratok MP Ali Biju, Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin, and Ranau MP Jonathan Yasin - said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had clearly stated otherwise in his televised address on Friday.
In a statement last night, the trio said this was a valid challenge to Harapan because the coalition has repeatedly stated their prime minister candidate was Anwar Ibrahim but the coalition does not have the requisite number of MPs to make it happen.
"If Harapan plans to take power with support from the kleptocrats, what is the price demanded by the kleptocrats? Surely the public is entitled to know this.
"Opposing the kleptocrats was their rallying cry for the 2018 elections. Is this what DAP, PKR, and Amanah have come to? Take power at all costs, with whichever unsavoury political bedfellow available?" they said.
All three MPs in the joint statement were formerly PKR members who defected in February 2020 last year and later joined Bersatu.
They said whatever the outcome of the current political turmoil, Muhyiddin can "hold his head high".
"Although his political career was on the line, he refused to give in to kleptocrats, refused to interfere in court cases, and refused to sell our future to the highest bidder," they said.
If Harapan cannot do the same, they said, then the coalition cannot claim to be based on reforms and principles.
On Friday, Muhyiddin made a last-ditch plea to the opposition to support him following Umno's decision on Aug 3 to do otherwise.
Muhyiddin promised a slew of reforms in exchange and stated that his intention was to prevent "kleptocrats" from coming back to power.
Several Umno MPs are currently facing criminal trials while one - Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak - has already been convicted and is going through an appeal process. - Mkini

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