KUALA LUMPUR – Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Mohamed Hashim on Thursday named eight MPs, whom he claimed were ready to jump ship in the opposition's bid to takeover the government on Sept 16, 2008.

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

A Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker was also in the fray, said Zahrain, when continuing his speech in debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat.

The whole House broke into laughter when Deputy Speaker Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar interjected, "Which deputy speaker?"

Accused of being BN 'attack dog'

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).

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution hit back at Zahrain by calling him a "BN attack dog".

"Zahrain assumes a new role to denigrate the opposition and his sudden outburst was a marked difference 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," said Saifuddin in a Bernama report.

Responding to Saifuddin's criticism, Zahrain sad, "It was unbecoming of him to give me such label. Anyway, it will not stop me. Do respect me as an MP." — Malaysian Mirror