The Attorney-General's Chambers has denied the speculation that several prosecutors will quit the chambers in protest but said that some are receiving 'good offers' from certain quarters.

"The AG's Chambers clarifies that there is no mass resignation among senior deputy public prosecutors as reported in malaysiakini on Aug 1, 2007," stated the two-paragraph statement posted on the chambers' official website late yesterday.

The statement also quoted the AG's Chambers prosecution division head Mohd Yusof Zainal Abiden and the division's classified cases unit head Sallehuddin Saidin as denying they were resigning.

Interestingly, the statement added: "They (the two senior DPPs) further clarify that certain quarters have expressed interests in them with good offers."

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that since Tuesday a strong rumour has been circulating that a group of prosecutors will resign due to their alleged unhappiness with the way AG Abdul Gani Patail handled several matters.

'Sick stories'

Apart from Yusof and Sallehuddin, two state chief prosecutors were also rumoured as planning to step down.

Both Yusof and Sallehuddin told malaysiakini yesterday that the speculation of them resigning was not true.

Sallehuddin also revealed that he was applying for optional retirement but did not elaborate.

Although malaysiakini could not reach the attorney-general for comments, the Sun today reported him as describing the speculation as "sick stories".

"Come on, even they (the DPPs in question) have denied, so what more is there? These are all because of sick people spreading sick stories," the daily quoted him as saying.

In June, Sallehuddin who was to lead the prosecution team in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial was abruptly dropped from the team the night before the trial was scheduled to start.

Abdul Gani (photo) later explained that Sallehuddin was replaced as the latter was seen playing badminton with the trial judge Mohd Zaki Mohd Yasin.