Kalabakan parliamentarian Abdul Ghapur Salleh, one of the eight MPs who was said to be ready to defect to the opposition camp for the Sept 16 takeover, today slammed PKR-turned-Independent representative Zahrain Hashim for lying in Parliament.

NONE Zahrain had last week revealed that Abdul Ghapur ( left ), an Umno MP from Sabah, was among those who were thinking of switching sides in September 2008 as part of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's campaign to dislodge BN from power.

Hitting out at the Bayan Baru parliamentarian for what he called a 'blatant lie', Abdul Ghapur demanded that Zahrain retract his statement and instead name all those whom he said were going to switch sides.

zahrain hashim parliament 180310 Abdul Ghapur urged Zahrain ( right ) to reveal all the 30 MPs rumoured to be on Anwar’s list.

"I’m not someone who jumps party. Ever since I have been in BN, I have never jumped. I am not one of those being asked to defect," he said, while debating the royal address in Parliament.

He questioned Zahrain's motive in making the accusation and in naming him as one of the potential defectors.

"Why involve me? I am not at fault. I want him to retract his statement and apologise."

'I cannot be bought'

Abdul Ghapur also highlighted his track record as a long-standing and loyal BN parliamentarian, saying that he was not someone that could be bought.

"In 1985, I was a Berjaya candidate. PBS wanted to buy me. I refused. If I leave a party, it is because I do not agree with the top leadership, not because of money."

He also alluded to an ulterior motive behind Zahrain's Sept 16 revelation and the real reason for his unrelenting attack on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

"Maybe they (the BN parliamentarians) do not defect because the bait offered to them is not enough. But for Bayan Baru, the bait must be huge. After two years, he decided to do this (to quit PKR). Why wait until two Sept 16's passed by? Why not a long time ago?

"He forgot that when he was in Penang, he asked for something and he did not get it to the point that he called somebody a 'communist'. Can I call someone a 'communist' here in the Dewan? I think not, this is wrong according to regulations.

"Now that he is fat and full, suddenly all these things come out."

‘Give me equal coverage’

He also warned Umno not to take Zahrain into its fold because if the former Penang PKR chief could turn on Anwar, he may one day turn on BN leader Najib Abdul Razak too.

“If he comes into Umno, people from Umno may leave."

Abdul Ghapur also called on the media such as Berita Harian , TV1 , TV3 and Awani to give the same coverage to his statement as they did with Zahrain's, or risk being exposed for being in league with the independent parliamentarian.

" Berita Harian, TV1, TV3 and Awani , they all must carry my statement with the same wide coverage they gave Zahrain's or they may be seen to be in cahoots (with him)."

During Abdul Ghapur's speech, Zahrain stood up several times to speak but the Kalabakan parliamentarian refused to give way to him.

Sri Gading parliamentarian Mohamed Aziz then tried to ask Abdul Ghapur to calm down but he was instead slammed for defending Zahrain.

A fuming Abdul Ghapur asked why Mohamed would defend an independent MP when he, a fellow BN member, was attacked by Zahrain.

Zahrain refuses to apologise

Half-an-hour after Abdul Ghafur's press conference, Zahrain held one of his own to refute the former's claims.

"I was shocked when Kalabakan suddenly jumped up like that over this issue. I did not mean to accuse anyone. I was just repeating what the Permatang Pauh MP said to me.

"If he has any issues with it, he should take it up with Anwar," said Zahrain.

Asked if he will heed Abdul Ghafur's demand for an apology, Zahrain said that this was 'irrelevant' since he did not make any accusation nor commit any offence.

Zahrain also described Abdul Ghafus' outburst as an 'unexpected, personal attack.