The first-term MP claimed that on the many occasions he had met with Anwar, including at the recent launch of a book on the latter, the matter was never raised, much less discussed.

“These are just false rumours created by people who are jealous of me. Also, I believe this rumour has surfaced because the divisional elections are coming,” he told FMT when contacted today.

Karupaiya was asked to comment on speculation that he had been asked to vacate his seat for Anwar, as the latter had expressed his intent to return to Parliament by October, through a by-election.

Karupaiya also noted that it was not right for him to vacate his seat, as the people there had voted for him.

“Furthermore, Padang Serai is the only Indian seat in the whole of Kedah,” he said.

The Padang Serai PKR division chief noted that Sungai Petani MP Johari Abdul and Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen had already offered to vacate their seats for Anwar, so there was no need to “disturb” his seat.

“Others are already offering, so why do people need to disturb my Padang Serai seat? No, I am not giving up my seat,” he said, adding that the matter had also not been discussed with current party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

In the May 9 general election, Karupaiya was engaged in a three-cornered fight for the Padang Serai parliamentary seat with PAS and Barisan Nasional, and won with a 8,813-vote majority.

Johari and Leong have openly voiced their willingness to give up their seats for Anwar’s comeback to the lower house, and subsequently take over the role of prime minister.

Under an agreement within Pakatan Harapan, current Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will step down for Anwar in two years.

In a recent interview with Nikkei Asian Review, Anwar had said that he intended to be in Parliament the latest by October through a by-election.