Gani Patail latest to deny involvement in Tun M's new party

Former attorney-general Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has denied involvement in the new party to be formed by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad after his name listed as among the party's top leadership became viral through social media, including Facebook and Twitter yesterday.

"The recent release of a list of people supposedly involved in the formation of the new party is a fake and a lie.

"I have never been involved and never will be involved in politics. I am and will always be a professional," he said via the WhatsApp application to Bernama.

The list of the new political party leadership that is said expected to be formed by Dr Mahathir, among others, named former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as being appointed as president while former UMNO Vice President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal as his deputy.

READ: 'New party name list cooked up by amateur cybertroopers'

Meanwhile, vice presidents comprised former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Zaid Ibrahim; former PAS Vice President Datuk Husam Musa and former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.

Former Wanita UMNO chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz is also named as treasurer and former Batu Kawan UMNO division vice chief Datuk Seri Batu Kawan Khairuddin Abu Hassan holds the post of secretary general.

READ: Muhyiddin backs Tun M's new party

Abdul Gani is listed as a member of the supreme council, which also included former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar; former Wanita Umno vice chief Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim; former Melaka Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa President Datuk Ibrahim Ali.

Apart from Abdul Gani, several other leaders including Abdul Wahid, Ibrahim, Rafidah and Khairuddin are reported to have also denied their involvement in the party and described listing their names as being ridiculous, false and might have been done by certain quarters imprudently and with an evil heart.

On Thursday, Dr Mahathir announced an opposition pact, involving a new party, PKR, DAP and Parti Amanah Negara, would be formed to challenge the Barisan Nasional in the coming 14th general election.