A PAS Kelantan legislator has lodged a report with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), claiming he was offered RM4 million by a Barisan Nasional (BN) agent as inducement to leave his party.

State executive councillor Takiyuddin Hassan confirmed that the report was lodged with the ACA office in Kota Baru yesterday, but said he was unable to elaborate because the law prevents him from divulging details of either the complainant or the report.

However, sources close to the state leadership told malaysiakini that the report involved Kemuning state assembly representative, Zakaria Yaakob (photo), who was among four PAS representatives seen at the ACA office yesterday.

The other three were identified as Takiyuddin, Kijang state assemblyperson Husam Musa and Kelantan deputy Youth chief Zulkifli Yaakob.

The source indicated that ACA officials recorded Zakaria's statement soon after the report was lodged.

"He (Zakaria) was approached by a well-known Umno member who was a BN candidate during the 1999 general election. The agent tried to coax him into leaving PAS, saying this was all they wanted him to do... he would not have to join Umno, but would be free to serve as an independent state representative," claimed the source.

"In return, the agent promised not to pursue the election petition that BN intends to file against him, provide continuous development funds for his constituency, and give him RM4 million in cash for his own use."

Zakaria immediately informed party leaders and they unanimously decided to lodge a report with the ACA, added the source.

In the March 21 polls, Zakaria won the Kemuning state seat by the slimmest of margins - two votes - against his BN challenger.

Malaysiakini's attempts to contact Zakaria for confirmation were unsuccessful.

Second report

This was the second report by a PAS state representative against BN in recent weeks. The first was a police report lodged by Limbongan state assemblyperson Zainuddin Awang Hamat (photo)on March 24, three days after the election.

PAS formed the state government after winning 24 of the 45 state seats contested in the 11th general election. BN won 21 state seats, needing only two more to form a government through a simple majority of 23 seats.

BN's Bachok MP Awang Adek Hussin has since issued an open invitation to PAS assemblypersons in Kelantan to join the BN, in order to enable it to form the state government.

Despite PAS' official rejection of the offer, Kelantan Umno liaison chief Mustapa Mohamed (left) has said there is a possibility that PAS assemblypersons will accept Umno's offer to cross over.

Takiyuddin said the party decided to lodge a report not only because of its concern over alleged corrupt practices by BN, but also to send a message to the people that PAS leaders will not sell out.

"PAS state representatives will not succumb to such despicable acts, no matter how lucrative the offer. BN should stop dreaming that one of us will take up its offer," he said when contacted today.

He said the state government hopes the ACA will carry a fair and transparent investigation to weed out corrupt practice, as this would be in line with oft-repeated statements by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Husam (right), meanwhile, said the alleged offer was more proof of the lack of morals within the Umno Kelantan leadership.

"They are not interested in serving the people. They are only concerned about getting power. That is why they are willing to stoop so low in trying to snatch power from PAS," he said when contacted.