KUALA LUMPUR: Four more Umno MPs who were previously rumoured to be siding with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government have come forward to deny their involvement in the campaign.
The quartet comprise Datuk Hasbullah Osman (Gerik), Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Putrajaya), Datuk Ahmad Nazlan Idris (Jerantut) and Datuk Seri Hasan Arifin (Rompin).
As with several other MPs whose names appeared in a viral list of 19 lawmakers alleged to have pledged their support for Anwar, the four claimed that they know nothing about the opposition leader's plans.
Hasbullah, when contacted by Bernama, described those who accused him of defecting and supporting Anwar's movement as "liars".
"It is not right... supporting Anwar means supporting DAP... they are lying, as I was not aware of this issue at all. I have not been contacted by any party... (these are) lies from DSAI (Anwar's) followers," he said.
Ahmad Nazlan also expressed shock that his name was in the list, as he said had never been contacted by anyone to discuss the matter.
"In fact, I think Anwar's efforts to form a new government in this current situation is not appropriate, because it poses a risk to the country's economy, while the Covid-19 pandemic has also not ended," he said.
Hasan, on the other hand, stated that he only found out his name was on the list when contacted by acquaintances over the matter on WhatsApp.
Tengku Adnan, meanwhile, said in a statement that the new government proposed by Anwar was just a pipe dream, and he hopes that no one would believe the Port Dickson MP's claims.
"We in Umno had also decided 'no Tun Mahathir, no Anwar and no DAP', so stop this speculation and we will continue the struggle to care for the people and remain loyal to Barisan Nasional (BN)," he said.
Yesterday, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim, Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap), Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Besut), Datuk Mohd Nizar Zakaria (Parit), Tajuddin Abd Rahman (Pasir Salak), Tan Sri Noh Omar (Tanjong Karang), Datuk Ahmad Maslan (Pontian), Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan) and Ramli Mohd Nor (Cameron Highlands) also denied supporting Anwar.