PKR information chief Tian Chua today challenged BN Backbenchers Club chairperson Tiong King Sing to show proof the oppositions was luring some Barisan MPs to defect with promises of cabinet posts.

Tiong was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times today that three MPs said they had been approached by businessmen purportedly with links to the Pakatan Rakyat opposition.

tiong king sing “Who believes him anyway? That is not the way to accuse people. He must show proof regarding his allegations,” Tian Chua told Malaysiakini this morning.

According to the daily, Tiong had also claimed that a businessman also tried to tempt the Bintulu MP. However, Tiong refused to divulge the names of the businessmen involved.

The report adds that Tiong and BBC members, who have been accused of preparing to defect, may get together and lodge a police report for slander.

Neverthess Tian Chua, who is also member of parliament for Batu, was unfazed.

“Lodge l ah. But why are they doing this now? I think they are just scared of losing power,” he said.

bersih protest constitution amendment 071207 tian chua The PKR information chief reiterated that Pakatan still “has the numbers” of Barisan MPs to defect to its side. The opposition coalition needs at least 31 MPs to join its camp in order for it to reverse the parliamentary majority currently held by Barisan.

Tiong had also said the club would hold a meeting as early as today to discuss ways to put a stop to such talk, which he said had marred their reputation.

The meeting will also urge MPs who have been offered inducements to lodge reports with the Anti-Corruption Agency.

Urges Pakatan and BN to meet

Meanwhile, Tian Chua reiterated that leaders from Pakatan and the Barisan should meet to discuss the emergency parliamentary session that Pakatan has sought from Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim had on Thursday sent a letter to Abdullah asking him to convene an emergency session of Parliament to debate a motion of no confidence against his leadership, but the request was rejected the same day.

“This should be done democratically as this is an urgent matter,” he said, urging Abdullah to “come to his senses” and agree to convene the special session on Tuesday, Sept 23.

Tian added that urgency was needed even though “he (Abdullah) does not want to know that we have the numbers”.

PKR vice-president R Sivarasa said yesterday Pakatan leaders would meet in a few days to discuss their next move.