PUTRAJAYA: There is no proof that any of the party-hoppers over the last few years did it for financial gain, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

       Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki acknowledged that the agency had received reports alleging that some had received money to jump from one political party to another.

       “These were just claims and allegations, but there is no proof, no evidence for us to act,” he said in an interview.

       The months after GE14 saw a spate of defections, including the Sheraton Move, which caused the then Pakatan Harapan government to collapse after less than two years in power.

       Last year, MPs Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat), Larry Sng (Julau) and Steven Choong (Tebrau) left the Opposition pact to support the then Perikatan Nasional government.

       With the Johor polls around the corner, several Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia assemblymen in Johor recently left the party for Umno.

       Opposition lawmakers have made repeated calls for authorities including the MACC to investigate those who jumped ship, claiming that money and other forms of inducements were being given.

       Azam pointed out that party-hopping was not an offence as there were no laws to prevent this. However, he said it would be wrong to have money changing hands.

       “So, all these acts of jumping ship are not wrong. However, if there is gratification, bribes or money offered for them to defect, that is an offence,” he said.

       The MACC chief said that it was up to lawmakers to determine whether a law to prevent party-hopping was necessary.

       On Jan 20, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said a proposed new law against switching political parties was expected to be tabled in Parliament during the coming meeting, earlier than the July timeline given.

       On allegations that certain Malaysian officials had received bribes from ex-Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner, Azam said MACC had reached out to the authorities in the United States.

       “They have responded but so far, they have not revealed the names (of those who purportedly received bribes). We are trying and we are hopeful but bear in mind that this is their prerogative,” he added.

       Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had lodged a report against Leissner asking that the MACC question him to expose names of officials from 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the government who allegedly received bribes from Leissner in the 1MDB scandal.

       Although Leissner had pleaded guilty in court to giving the bribes and Goldman Sachs had to pay compensation of RM16.4bil to the Malaysian government, the names of officials involved were never made public.