BERSATU lawmaker Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has claimed that Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman was among the “operators” working to lure more of the opposition party’s lawmakers to declare their support for the unity government.
The Machang MP had alleged yesterday (Nov 14) that a “Datuk Botak”, alongside a former aide to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim – identified as ex-PKR leader Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, were involved in enticing opposition MPs to defect.
“[Suhaili] accused me of concocting this fiction about ‘Datuk Botak’. No, it’s real. In fact, he is also involved in this,” Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said in a press conference outside the Dewan Rakyat today (Nov 15).
“He is involved to seduce our MPs to endorse and support the prime minister. So, he too, is one of the operators now. So, he is a traitor.”
Elaborating, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said they were in a meeting and Suhaili had confidently called one of the opposition MPs without realising that opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was also present in the meeting.
“The MP then handed the phone over to Hamzah and he (Suhaili) was startled as he thought he was having a private conversation with the MP. He never gave up since he declared support for the prime minister. It’s a blatant approach by him,” he added.
“Hence, this shows that he is one of the operators (who is enticing Bersatu MPs) and I can easily say that he is a traitor.”
Earlier today, Bernama reported Suhaili denying that he and three other Bersatu MPs were intimidated into supporting Anwar.
He said the claim by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is also the Bersatu Youth leader, that an individual with a “Datuk” title was the mastermind behind the move by him and the other three MPs from PN to change direction to support the prime minister was not true.
On Farhash’s plan to lodge a police report against him, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said he welcomed the move, adding that the report will ensure that the police can fully investigate the issue of Bersatu MPs being enticed to support Anwar’s government.
“He (Farhash) has threatened to file a police report against me and sue me, however, he should not act deliriously (tidak melatah) without checking facts,” he stressed.
“I have never defamed him and I merely read a police report that was lodged by one of Bersatu Youth members on Nov 14.
“However, I welcome the police report filed by Farhash so the matter can be fully investigated by the police. Let the police take action, as the report contained all the facts for the authorities to carry out the investigation.”
He added that all evidence pertaining to the issue, including videos, texts, photos and emails used as modus operandi had also been submitted with the report lodged with police.
Malicious intent
Meanwhile, in an immediate riposte to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal’s claims, Farhash said in a press conference today that he had not been involved in politics for a while and was focusing on life as a businessperson.
“I vehemently denounce and deny the untrue and baseless slanderous accusations levelled against me. I do not have any knowledge of the untrue and baseless claims by Wan Fayhsal,” he said, adding that the accusation was made with malicious intent and without any direct evidence.
“Through Wan Amhad Fayhsal’s press conference, it is clear that I have been used as a political tool to spread false rumours for his own benefit. I have not been involved in the political scene for a long time and now only lead a life as a businessperson.
“I do not understand why brother Wan Fayhsal has hurled such slander against me with the intention of bringing down my reputation and honour for his political interests.”
Between Oct 12 and Nov 9, four Bersatu MPs – Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik – had pledged their support for Anwar while insisting that they remain loyal to Bersatu. – Nov 15, 2023
Main pic credit: Sinar Harian
