Xavier, who became an independent MP after quitting the party in March last year, should have only joined PBM after Parliament was dissolved if he was a man of principle, Fahmi said.

Alternatively, the PKR information chief said, Xavier should have resigned as the Kuala Langat MP.

“As he didn’t do either, it shows that they do not respect the anti-hopping bill that was passed with the unanimous support of all MPs, including himself,” Fahmi told FMT.

In March 2021, Xavier, the former land, water and natural resources minister, announced that he was quitting PKR to support then prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin as an independent.

Xavier, who had been with PKR since 1998, said he had become “extremely frustrated” following the events of the past year.

On Feb 24, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Azam Baki reportedly confirmed the agency was investigating Xavier following the arrest of his close associate, MA Tinagaran, a week earlier.

Yesterday, Xavier said joining PBM was his choice but refused to disclose the reason.

He is among the six MPs to join the party.

The others are Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Larry Sng (Julau), Steven Choong (Tebrau), Mohamaddin Ketapi (Lahad Datu) and Edmund Santhara Kumar (Segamat).

Zuraida, who is also PBM’s president-designate, Sng, Choong and Santhara were previously with PKR.

Fahmi said he doubted that the defections by former PKR leaders would impact the party, noting that not many followed Xavier out of PKR.