BN Mas Gading MP Dr Tiki Lafe has denied that he was defecting to the opposition after he was dropped from the new federal cabinet line-up.

According to a report in The Borneo Post today, the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) vice-president said that he met Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak yesterday morning and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the afternoon.

Dr. Tiki Lafe "I met them to reassure them that I am a BN loyalist," Tiki said, adding he was unhappy with the rumours spread about him by people known to him.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that Tiki, dropped from his deputy minister’s post, has neither denied nor confirmed speculations that he is quitting his party to join the opposition when contacted.

Asked on the rumours over the phone yesterday morning, the Bidayuh legislator would only say, "I am on holiday with my family."

Personal attacks

Pressed further on the matter, he added, "I am not saying anything."

In the Post report, Tiki sent a SMS out to his associates stating that "these people would not stop their personal attacks against him until they get what they had wanted (getting him out of politics)."

Speculations over Tiki’s move came immediately after the rumoured resignation of Serian MP Richard Riot from Supp on Wednesday.

richard riot supp bn 200308 Although Richard was still incommunicado, it is believed that he has made an about-turn.

His party colleague issued a statement yesterday declaring that Richard has not resigned from the party and that he has pledged his loyalty to the BN.

Tiki, Richard and Mambong MP Dr James Dawos Mamit, who is a PBB supreme council member, are the only three Bidayuh MPs.

All three were believed to have been proposed by their parties for posts in the federal cabinet but none of them were appointed.

Tiki was deputy rural and regional development minister in the previous cabinet. Richard and James Dawos have never been appointed as ministers.

Agenda of struggle

Resignation rumours have been sending shock waves through the BN due to claims by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim that he was talking to some BN MPs about joining his party.

anwar lingam tape pc 081107 extrovert Even up to yesterday in Ipoh, Anwar said he has met with Barisan Nasional MPs from Sabah and Sarawak over the issue of crossing over without him needing to go to the two states.

"It is true that Barisan MPs from Sabah, Sarawak and the peninsula have met me. I don’t deny that," he was quoted by the Star as saying.

He said there was "good progress" in the talks but the Opposition coalition was in no hurry to form the government.

In the Star report today, Anwar reiterated that the principle of the Barisan MPs crossing over was based on an "agenda of struggle and changes for the nation."

"The question of buying people does not arise. It is not our tradition," he said, adding that if the issue of buying the MPs were to arise, he would call off the discussions.

Asked if Serian MP Richard Riot was joining the Opposition, Anwar said:

"We will make an announcement when we have the official letter."

Asked further about an Internet article stating that 23 MPs were keen to join the Opposition, Anwar said the number was only speculation.

"Why 23? Why not 53?" he asked.