align="left">IPOH, MALAYSIA: The DAP's assemblyman for Tronoh, V. Sivakumar claims that he has been offered up to RM65 million (S$28.2 million) to cross over to Barisan Nasional.This came with promises of round-the-clock police protection, he added.
Sivakumar said there had been a constant stream of phone calls from strangers and acquaintances asking him to consider the move since March 9, a day after he won the seat,
"At first, I thought it was a joke but two or three days later, I realised that they were serious."
He lodged a police report yesterday after receiving the first SMS on Saturday.
The SMS, sent at 5.31pm, read:
"Sivakumar, Pas ready use Pakatan Rakyat as stringboard to an islamic country. Fragile or weak Perak state government is head by Pas MB will soon collapse. BN will form back a common customs Perak state because 1 DAP and 1 PKR already crossing over BN. Still got 2 vacancies waiting you and Siva Subramaniam. Do not miss this golden opportunity. It will valid anytime, faster contact me to hold the golden opportunity!"
A check with Buntong state assemblyman A. Sivasubramaniam showed that he, too, received a message at 7.18pm the same day.
Speaking at the Ipoh district police headquarters yesterday, Sivakumar said he hoped the police would investigate the matter and that he would no longer be harassed by such offers.
"I am getting calls from different people every day, even though I am not interested."
He said the offer of RM65 million came from a stranger in his 40s who called his home in Taman Kledang Emas here about 11.30pm, a week after the election.
About 10 days ago, four other men in their late 30s or early 40s, turned up at his home about 7.15pm, asking if this was the home of "V. Sivakumar who won the Tronoh state seat".
Sivakumar said he hid in a room because he feared being kidnapped.
Ipoh Barat MP and DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran said he was approached by BN leaders who offered him RM5 million if he were to bring a DAP state assemblyman into BN.
"I told them not to contact me, and now they are reaching almost everyone (in Pakatan Rakyat)."
Kulasegaran said there were also BN assemblymen who offered to join Pakatan Rakyat in exchange for a seat in the state executive council.
"If they really want to leave BN, they should just resign."
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