Khairy Jamaluddin has denied submitting a letter of resignation over the 1MDB issue as alleged by former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir.

"What he said, about me sending in my resignation letter, is not true.

"While he was still in Umno... We met each other, and sometimes he came to visit me and we discussed current issues, that is all," the youth and sports minister told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.

Mukhriz, who is now Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy president, reportedly claimed that Khairy wanted to quit because of his dissatisfaction with the explanations on the 1MDB issue.

The minister said he does not know why Mukhriz made such a statement, but speculated that it perhaps be due to the strong unity shown at this year's Umno general assembly.

"Maybe there are people, whether it is Mukhriz or others, who are uneasy with the unity shown at the Umno assembly.

"This year, we showed strong solidarity and unity at the assembly. So maybe that gave rise to some feelings of envy and jealousy," he added.

The Umno Youth chief said this could be the reason behind rumours about other leaders such as the fake Dec 9 letter in Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's name, calling on BN MPs to pressure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to resign.

Such speculation, he said, failed to have any effect on Umno.

"Maybe now they will look for new issues," he added.