Programmer Azharuddin Othman, who alleged fraud in the Citizens' Declaration petition, has denied making a new statutory declaration (SD) retracting the claim.

"About claims that I made a U-turn, I would like to deny it," he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

This was after a purported SD bearing his name emerged on social media claiming that he was retracting the allegation.

Azharuddin said he was surprised about the new SD and lamented at being dragged into the limelight again.

"I don't want the attention," he added.

Previously, Azharuddin had alleged one Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, nicknamed Ratu Naga, had purchased a database of names from him for the purpose of the Citizens' Declaration.

He added that the deal was conducted over the internet.

These allegations were contained in a SD Azharuddin revealed to the media on May 26.

However, in a new SD which was circulated on social media, Azharuddin allegedly denied knowing Ema.

The new SD also supposedly showed Azharuddin accusing activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, of paying him to make the original claim.

However, Badrul Hisham, who was present at the press conference with Azharuddin, claimed the new SD was fake.

He criticised Malaysiakini for highlighting the new SD.

Malaysiakini yesterday reported on the new SD as well as Badrul Hisham's response claiming that it was fake.

Badrul Hisham also slammed efforts to shame Azharuddin for speaking out against the Citizens' Declaration.

"(Former premier) Dr Mahathir Mohamad's supporters are like the Islamic State, they scour through people's Facebook pages and spread pictures of Azharuddin's family.

"This has brought shame to Azharuddin's family," he said.

Badul Hisham, a suspended PKR member, has mounted a campaign against the Citizens' Declaration in protest of the opposition's cooperation with the former premier.

The Citizens' Declaration, a joint effort by the opposition, civil society groups and government rebel forces, called for the removal of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak due to the 1MDB and donation scandals.

Journalists at the press conference were also taken by surprise when Ema, who was accused of buying the database of names, made an uninvited appearance.

The six-month pregnant woman hurled several questions at Azharuddin, demanding that he come clean on whether he really knew her.

However, Azharuddin remained silent throughout the barrage of questions by Ema and Badrul Hisham answered them instead.