PKR will demand a compensation of RM10 million from Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar for leaving the party last month.

According to the party's treasurer-general Lee Chean Chung, a letter of demand will be sent to Xavier today, who will be given seven days to settle the amount.

"Any elected representative who decides to leave the party will face the same fate, in which they have to pay RM10 million as agreed," Bernama quoted Lee, who is also Semambu assemblyperson, as telling reporters in Kuantan yesterday.

Earlier last month, Xavier announced his immediate resignation as PKR vice-president and member, and said he will serve his constituents as an independent reprsentative.

The former minister of land, water and natural resources said that he was quitting after having grown increasingly frustrated with PKR, of which he has been a part of for 23 years.

Xavier further voiced his support for the leadership of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and said that everyone's priority now should be to support the government in containing the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuilding the economy, instead of discussing about elections.

Although Xavier had stressed that his exit from PKR was his own doing, the party's secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail claimed that the former resorted to the move to escape a scrutiny by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

A senior minister had threatened Xavier with "serious consequences" if he did not support the Perikatan Nasional government, Saifuddin had alleged.

This after Xavier's political secretary, personal aide and a few associates were arrested in relation to an ongoing case.


Source: Bernama
Photo source: Astro Awani