The prime minister's son-in-law today denied he had taken a popular television actress and presenter as his second wife and blasted what he said were attempts to undermine the government.

Budding politician Khairy Jamaluddin also set aside accusations by former premier Mahathir Mohamad that he was influencing decisions made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the state Bernama news agency said.

"I swear upon Allah, I have only one wife and she is Nori binti Abdullah and I hold to the principle of TTP - Tak Teringin Pun," he said, quoting a phrase in Malay meaning "not interested in getting a second wife".

Rumours about his alleged relationship with Maya Karin ( right ), an actress known for her role as a vampire in a local blockbuster, have been making the rounds on Malaysian websites in recent weeks.

Abdullah last month was also forced to deny suggestions from Mahathir that Khairy was the power behind the throne, controlling the administration along with Abdullah's own advisors.

Khairy, 31, also deputy youth chief of the ruling party, said it was time to address the claims, which he said were part of a campaign to undermine the prime minister.

"I see many of the accusations and criticisms are baseless and what I regret is that their attacks are personal," he said.

"They attack me personally after failing to find any weakness in (Abdullah) and now they attack his son-in-law, making it seem as if I was no longer patriotic to the country," he was quoted as saying at a party conference.

"I have obligations to the party and when I answer, it does not mean I want to wage war but the objective is to speak the truth," he said.

'This is the right time'

According to him, the allegations were personal and as a person of dignity, he needed to explain them especially to party members.

Khairy, who is scheduled to officiate more than 30 Umno Youth meets nationwide, said he would use the opportunity to explain the allegations. "This is the right time," he added.

The 30-year-old Oxford graduate, who married Abdullah's daughter four years ago, said he was disappointed that the government had to declassify documents because Mahathir was not satisfied with the answers to his queries.

"The government took a risk by exposing the documents and the issue should have been settled but it is still being raised," he said.

Mahathir has been flaying the Abdullah administration over several of its decisions, namely the cancellation of the half bridge project mooted by him.

Maya, 26, won the award for best actress at the Asia Pacific Film Festival 2004 in Japan. She was named best actress at the Estapona International Film Festival of Fantasy and Horror 2005 held in Spain last September.

She is also a presenter on popular music network, Channel V.