Ex-PKR MP's name revelation may be connected to internal UMNO feuds, and not against the PKR

Why did Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim name the 8 BN Members of Parliament including Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Umno-Gua Musang)?

Who put him up to it?

Was it just that Zahrain Mohamed Hashim wanted to show that he was not an 'insignificant' within PKR - but a person who had access to Anwar, and his 'secrets' - an important person within PKR?

Or was it a move initiated possibly by PM Najib (or DPM Muhyiddin or some other persons within UMNO/BN) meant to discredit certain persons within the party? Was Ku Li the real target?...After all a 'potential traitor' will not have as much support within UMNO...and will be less of a threat Was some of the other named MPs targetted for certain reasons?

It was an 'attack' best coming for a non-UMNO person - for if it came from an UMNO person, then it will be less believable, and most will assume it to be 'un-true' and just another false allegation by an opposing faction? Best, if it came from someone else - an ex-PKR MP would do nicely.

Who was the person behind this? The manner in which the DPM reacted reminds us of the Malay proverb, 'Siapa Makan Cili, Dia Rasa Pedas' (He who ate the Chili will feel the heat) . Maybe not the DPM, ...maybe someone else who may feel that his Presidency is being threathened. 8 names - but maybe the target is just 1 or 2 persons.

The revelation of the ex-PKR MP really helps Anwar, the PKR and Pakatan Rakyat because it 'confirms' what they had been saying all this while. No one really believed that the BN MPs would jump over ... Maybe those named were even not the ones who may have been considering jumping over.

I believe, that revelation was a 'strike' made in an internal UMNO feud - rather than an attack against the PKR (or Pakatan Rakyat). I suspect that it was a 'knife' thrown at Ku Li - I may be wrong, and this is just a speculation. The timing is also interesting...

Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim today named eight MPs, whom he claimed were ready to jump ship in the opposition's bid to take over the government on Sept 16, 2008.

He alleged that this was told to PKR MPs by its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, but it did not materialised. 

The eight were Abdul Ghapur Salleh (Umno-Kalabakan), Anifah Aman (Umno-Kimanis), Bung Moktar Radin (Umno-Kinabatangan), Chua Soon Bui (Sapp-Tawau), Eric Majimbun (Sapp-Sepanggar), Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi (Umno-Batu Pahat), Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar (Umno-Jerantut) and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Umno-Gua Musang).

A Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker was also allegedly among the defectors, said Zahrain when continuing his speech while debating the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat.

The whole House broke into laughter when deputy speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar interjected and said, "Which deputy speaker?"

Zahrain claimed that there was a link between online newspaper MalaysiaKini and Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK)'s news portal with the opposition and urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to probe into it.

'Not BN mercenary'

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Zahrain denied that he was a "BN mercenary soldier" as he had been vocal even before he left Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Meanwhile, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution hit back at Zahrain (left) by calling him a "BN attack dog".

"Zahrain assumes a new role to denigrate the opposition and his sudden outburst was a marked different from his heydays in the PKR.

"He hardly took part in parliamentary debate for the past two years but all of a sudden he became very vocal.

"When these MPs jumped ship, they were turned into 'attack dogs'. They had prepared text with them and brought up issues which they thought were crucial," added Saifuddin.

Responding to the label "attack dog", Zahrain, "It was unbecoming of him to give me such label. Anyway, it will not stop me. Do respect me as an MP."- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 18/3/2010, Zahrain names eight Sept 16 'defectors'

Muhyiddin Yassin wants the authorities to investigate claims that Anwar Ibrahim had convinced opposition members of parliament that he had the blessings of the Agong and the armed forces to execute plans to take over the federal government in 2008.

The deputy prime minister said the revelation by Bayan Lepas independent member of parliament Zahrain Mohamed Hashim was serious as it could tarnish the good names of the institution of Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the armed forces.

"The authorities should weigh Zahrain's statement and if there is a basis to it, then they should take appropriate action," he told reporters in Muar.

Muhyiddin was asked to comment on the revelation by Zahrain in the Dewan Rakyat on the attempt by Anwar to take over the federal government on Sept 16, 2008.

Muhyiddin said Zahrain would have a strong evidence to be able to reveal the matter in Parliament. 

Former PKR 'inner circle'

"He (Zahrain) is willing to swear in Parliament. This is not a statement which we can view lightly because he knows better what has been taking place in PKR," he said.

Zahrain, said Muhyiddin, was a former member of PKR "inner circle" and at one time was a good friend of Anwar.

He said that until now neither Anwar nor other PKR leaders had denied the claims by the Bayan Lepas MP.

The deputy prime minister was also asked on the statement by Anwar likening the 1Malaysia concept to 'One Israel'.

Muhyiddin said it was another example of lies by the PKR leader.

Saying that Anwar and other opposition leaders were feeling threatened by the popularity of 1Malaysia, Muhyiddin said likening 1Malaysia to One Israel was ill-intent and political gimmickry. - Bernama, - Malaysiakini, 19/3/2010, DPM wants Zahrain's claims investigated