KUALA LUMPUR: Providence apparently had a hand in Batu Pahat MP Puad Zarkashi turning down an offer by Anwar Ibrahim to form a new government on Sept 16, 2008.
Puad, the deputy education minister, told Umno-linked daily Utusan Malaysia that he performed a special prayer called istikharah and subsequently the answer was given to him in a "dream".
"In my dream, god told me that if I signed a letter in support of Anwar as the prime minister, it would mean that I have sold the country," said Puad
He added that god provided him with the strength to refuse the invitation by the PKR de facto leader to topple the ruling coalition.
Puad said he was depressed and in fear when he was informed by Anwar that there was enough support from other BN MPs, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and four other Sultans.
Recalling the moment, he said he was with Machang PKR MP Saifuddin Nasution on a BN field trip to Taiwan when he was contacted.
"This was a day before the supposed takeover. We were all in Taiwan. Around 2am, Saifuddin phoned my room and persuaded me to give support to Anwar as the next prime minister.
"But Saifuddin did not make it to my room (to meet me) because I was getting ready to leave for Hong Kong," he said.
Puad was among the eight MPs named by former Bayan Baru PKR MP Zahrain Hashim who were willing to cross over to PKR to help Anwar's ambition to be prime minister.
The others were Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan), foreign minister Anifah Aman (BN-Kimanis), Bung Mukhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan), Chua Soon Bui (Independent-Tawau), Enchin Majimbun (Independent-Sepangar), Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar (BN-Jerantut) and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (BN-Gua Musang).
Ku Li denies it too
Zahrain, who recently walked out of PKR because of dissatisfaction with the leadership, has since launched a scathing attack against his former party.
However, both the Independent MPs have denied their involvement in the latest allegation.
Meanwhile, in Kuala Terengganu, veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh has also denied Zahrain's claim, describing it as "not right".
"If I want to join any party, I won't wait for him to announce it. I'm a man," he told reporters yesterday.
This morning, Tengku Razaleigh once again dismissed Zahrain's claim, calling it a tall tale.
"I do not want to comment on it. I have been with Umno for 48 years. The claim is a tall tale," he told reporters.
Tengku Razaleigh said that if indeed the claim was true, he would now be holding a senior position in PKR.
"I'm not for sale and not available. If the claim is true, I would have been a leader in PKR," he said.
Saifuddin was unavailable for clarification today.
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