Several State assemblymen had information on alleged corrupt activities within Selangor-owned sand mining company Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd — but refused to act on it because they were "afraid", claimed Kapar Member of Parliament (MP) S. Manikavasagam.
"Individuals who came to me and revealed the alleged ongoing corruption within the company approached several other State assemblymen first," he told The Malay Mail.
"None of them dared to pursue the matter. However, I felt it was serious and needed immediate attention, as it could tarnish PKR's (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) image.
"That's why I pressed this issue with the State leadership."
Last Saturday, Manikavasagam claimed to possess documents indicating alleged corrupt practices among officers in Kumpulan Semesta.
The MP then gave Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim 72 hours to act against individuals and sack them.
Manikavasagam said the information was passed to him by company insiders.
"I was appointed to head the party's complaints bureau, a post similar to what Datuk Michael Chong of MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) is doing," he said.
"Many people came to me with all sorts of complaints and this was one of them.
"They told me they saw other State assemblymen, but their complaints were not attended to. I felt it was impossible for it not to be looked into because it involved corruption, the very thing PKR is supposedly against.
"If the party is serious about combating corruption, they must take action."
The maverick MP also had harsh words for the MB, whom he claimed did not take time to attend to problems of the rakyat.
"I once told him he should spend some time with MPs and assemblymen and allow them to voice problems they face in their constituencies.
"He agreed with me but then, after some time, he seemed to forget about it. In the past two months, I only met him once. Perhaps if I pressured him in the media like what I'm doing now, he will listen better."
Manikavasagam shrugged off suggestions that by pressuring the MB — who is a fellow PKR leader — he was defiantly going against his own party.
"I am fighting for the party, not against the party. I have my own principles and I will always stand by them.
"People have accused me of being the 'jump-ship' type of politician. I disagree. I have been in the party for 10 years and everything I am doing is for the betterment of the party."
In response to Manikavasagam's ultimatum, Selangor MB's political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said he would be meeting with the Kapar MP.
"I will meet Manikavasagam and look at documents he has," Nik Nazmi told The Malay Mail yesterday.
"The State government has been aware of the Kumpulan Semesta issue for some time. Many assemblymen, such as Gombak's Azmin Ali, raised it during the State assembly."
