DPM: No 'frogs' in Sabah or S'wak

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has dismissed the claim by a PKR leader that 13 Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs in Sabah will cross over to the opposition.

"I want to say, there is no truth to the claim," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report today.

On Monday, Sabah-based PKR vice-president Jeffrey Kitingan said the 13 MPs would join the opposition if Anwar Ibrahim wins the Permatang Pauh by-election on Aug 26.

"We speak the truth. I am talking about the 13 MPs who will join Pakatan Rakyat after Anwar wins this (Permatang Pauh) by-election ... they are just waiting (to cross over)," he told a ceramah.

Meanwhile, Najib, who is also BN deputy chairperson, also refuted the talk that several BN MPs in Sarawak would follow suit.

"There are no "frogs" in Sabah and neither in Sarawak," he said.

As such, he advised the people not to believe claims that some BN MPs would be leaving the coalition.

This is psy-war

Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin said Kitingan was engaging in psychological warfare to fish for votes in Permatang Pauh.

"If it is true, do not just toss numbers but reveal their names," he told reporters after campaigning for the BN in Taman Pauh.

The by-election is a three-way fight between Anwar, BN's Arif Shah Omar Shah and Hanafi Mamat of Angkatan Keadilan Insan Malaysia (Akim).

The seat was vacated by Anwar’s wife and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to allow her husband to reignite his political career.

Should Anwar win, it will pave the way for his return to Parliament after a 10-year absence since he was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998.

The politician has also set Sept 16 as the date for the opposition alliance Pakatan Rakyat to seize control of the federal government.

Pakatan Rakyat, comprising PKR, DAP and PAS, controls 81 parliamentary seats while BN has 140. The opposition alliance would need an additional 30 seats to form the federal government.