MAHATHIR-YANG BERHORMAT GOING PRICE IS RM10 MILLION

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad said, “Both sides are trying to buy. That is very democratic. RM10 million is the going price," he said. "Just imagine, if you are a Yang Berhormat and you had RM10 million in the pocket. That's very democratic," he said with his trademark sarcasm.

I had calls from BN MPs, insists Anwar

Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday maintained he had been in touch with Barisan Nasional MPs who wanted to cross over. "I had calls from the East Malaysian states and also the peninsula and even Perak.

"It is not our tradition to buy them over. They must adhere to our policies and struggle to see changes in the country if they intend to join us.

"If the subject of buying over is raised, the discussions will be cancelled," he said after calling on Perak Menteri Besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin here yesterday.

He said bribing of candidates was "the tradition of Umno and BN". Asked on his earlier claim that he was negotiating with possible defectors from BN, Anwar spoke of "developments" but refused to be drawn into specifics. "We are not rushing into it. We have time."

Asked about the rumoured crossover of a Sarawak MP to PKR, he said, "we will make an announcement on it later".