PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution today accused four ex-PKR MPs-turned-independent, particularly Zahrain Hashim (Bayan Baru), of being BN's 'attack dogs'.
"They are being used as attack dogs, hired mercenaries," said Saifuddin, during a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
He said independent MPs are now BN's newest platform to attack Pakatan Rakyat because there too few BN MPs capable of going toe-to-toe with the opposition.
"You can count the number of BN parliamentarian that can face up to Pakatan in debate. When some of them take on the role of ministers or deputy ministers, they can no longer effectively debate with us."
He explained that now that a few MPs have resigned or been sacked from PKR, an opportunity arose for BN.
"When these independents speak, the ministers will all be in chambers. Just look at yesterday, lots of ministers were there, despite it being nearly 5.30pm.
"We can see how this is being orchestrated. There are the prepared texts and manufactured issues, which they think are important but for us are trivial," added Saifuddin.
Yesterday, Zahrain went on an offensive against his former boss and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of lying about the alleged Sept 16, 2008 takeover of the federal government.
Following this, the house erupted in chaos with BN and Pakatan MPs trading barbs before Anwar walked out of the Dewan Rakyat amidst the chorus of "takut (coward)" by BN MPs.
Warned to 'tone down'
However he said that this phenomena is merely minor obstacle and will not distract Pakatan from their real enemy - Umno and BN.
"BN is our number one political enemy. We are facing the killer of Altantuya, we are facing the plunderers of the rakyat's wealth, we are facing a corrupt and lawless government," he said.
Saifuddin also alleged that he has been cautioned by a senior Umno MP, who is also a cabinet minister, to stop exposing embarrassing details about Umno and BN.
The senior minister was apparently upset that Saifuddin's remark in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that a top Umno leader had served liquor at his wedding anniversary.
Saifuddin also told the Dewan Rakyat that during an Umno-organised trip to the US, a party leader was found asleep inside a casino after he failed to rejoin the tour group.
According to Saifuddin, the irate minister warned that failure to comply would result in Umno unleashing another barrage of attacks against Anwar.
What else can they do?
"Just now, some ten minutes before this press conference, I was approached by a senior Umno minister asking me to slow down or they will attack Anwar.
"He asked me not to mention this case again or they will attack Anwar," claimed Saifuddin, adding that he told off the said minister.
"I said no. What else can they do to Anwar? you have arrested him, you have assaulted him, you have humiliated him. So what else can you do to him?"
Quizzed on when the two embarrassing incidents took place, Saifuddin said it happened while he was still an Umno members.
"A few years back when I was in Umno. I was expelled in 1998. It happened before that."
He said that the leaders concerned is still active and will only reveal names if challenged by Umno to do so.
courtesy of Malaysiakini
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