Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today refused to be drawn into the tit-for-tat attacks over the consumption of alcohol involving a number of top Muslim politicians.

The first salvo was fired at PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahim, who is contesting the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election. He subsequently conceded that he did drink during his younger days.

Yesterday, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang returned fire in the Dewan Rakyat by challenging Umno politicians to declare that they have never drank alcohol before.

NONE He targeted, in particular, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau), de facto Law Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

When pressed by journalists at the Parliament lobby today, Khairy appeared defensive over a photo posted on the Internet depicting a person who looked like him along with an unidentifiable man and two women with what appeared to be alcoholic drinks on the table.

The following is the transcript of the interview.

Journalist: Is Pakatan hypocritical for attacking BN on the drinking controversy?

Khairy: If I entertain this question, this thing is going to continue throughout the (Hulu Selangor) campaign. You guys are also partly to blame because you ask them for comments and you ask me for comments. That should be enough. If I answer that, then this thing will perpetuate until the end of the campaign. You know that.

Are you blaming the media?

You are putting words in my mouth. I didn’t say that I am blaming the media. You are putting words in my mouth,

So who were you referring to when you said "you guys"?

Everybody. All sides - both political parties and the media. This thing is getting out of hand. If you want to stop it and the media cares so much about the issue then you should stop reporting about it on both sides.

Stop propagating campaign based on personal attacks on both sides and stop egging on politicians by asking for their comments. I am damn interested in seeing on how you going to write.

(Later, as Khairy was leaving Parliament house, he was again pressed on the issue by another group of journalists).

Journalist: YB, I hope you don’t mind this ques...

Khairy: I got to go, I got to go.

The opposition has been attacking (you), that you’re also a drinker...

Who? I got to go... Huh? What is it to attack?

Could you comment on this?

What is it to attack?

They using this controversial photo...

What controversial photo is that?

...showing a guy drinking...

Am I drinking in the photo? Am I drinking in the photo? Am I drinking in the photo? Am I drinking in the photo? Was I drinking in the photo? Have you seen the photo?

Yes, I’ve seen the photo.

Am I drinking in the photo? Am I drinking in the photo?

I’m not sure whether the person is you...

I’m not drinking.

VIDEO l 1.27 min