Barisan Nasional leaders from East Malaysian states today ticked off newly sworn-in Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly stoking speculation that defections from their ranks into his Pakatan Rakyat alliance were imminent.

They also reiterated their support for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

shafie apdal "We are not merchandise, we are not promotional items. We have prestige and dignity and this is a struggle we will never gamble," Mohd Shafie Apdal, the BN MP for Semporna told a press conference.

"There should not be any speculation... playing with these issues and fabricating stories as if we are goods and items to be sold," said Shafie, who is also unity, culture and heritage minister.

Surrounded by some 20 legislators from Sabah and Sarawak, Shafie said East Malaysian MPs had agreed to pledge their loyalty to the BN and will be submitting a declaration to the prime minister by today or tomorrow.

Shafie stressed that East Malaysian MPs would never secede from the Barisan, but would stand by the leadership regardless of the rumours being spread.

"All those rumours are concoctions by irresponsible people... Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman and Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud's have again and again pledged our loyalty to BN," he said.

Reveal who

Anwar told Malaysiakini two weeks ago that one of his first tasks as opposition leader was to reconnect with BN MPs who had indicated their willingness to defect to his alliance.

The Pakatan Rakyat leader had also hinted some of the potential defectors were members of parliament from the East Malaysian states.

Meanwhile, Barisan MP for Miri Peter Chin Fah Kui challenged Anwar to reveal the names of those planning to join him in Pakatan.

"Ask him to reveal who it is first," said Chin, who is also plantation industries and commodities minister.

When asked whether they planned to take any action against Anwar, Shafie said the matter would be investigated and appropriate action would be taken after that.