SHAH ALAM, July 22 -- Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi has reportedly rejected allegations that leaders from his party had met with Perikatan Nasional (PN) to discuss defections from the current government.

He instead claimed that PAS Deputy President Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had approached Umno intermediaries and offered the prime minister's post as part of a proposal to form a "backdoor government".

"From what I was informed, it was he who made the first move to approach Umno intermediaries and offered the post of prime minister to Umno if the party agreed to the 'backdoor government' plan," he was quoted saying by Sinar Harian, referring to Tuan Ibrahim.

"But that idea was never brought to or discussed in...