An Umno Supreme Council member claimed that reports published in malaysiakini which quoted him on issues related to Umno has caused him to be left out of favour within the Umno leadership.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is member of Parliament for Bagan Datoh, Perak, said he has, on several occasions, responded to questions from malaysiakini journalists on sensitive issues, including one regarding the formation of Puteri Umno.

However, he claimed that the reports were causing him unnecessary problems within the party.

Zahid said this when malaysiakini contacted him yesterday for comments on the allegation by a local weekly tabloid, Perdana Sari , that Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman is a lesbian.

Perdana Sari , which is owned by writer Khalid Jafri, carried stories of Azalinas alleged affair in its second, third and fourth issues. It also alleged that Azalina used Puteri Umnos funds to buy her partner a RM300,000 Mercedes Benz as a birthday gift.

Azalina however had denied all accusations levelled against her.

Khalid also penned the controversial book, 50 dalil kenapa Anwar tidak boleh jadi PM (50 reasons why Anwar Ibrahim cannot become the PM).

Malaysiakini , in previous reports, had quoted comments from Zahid on various matters, including on Puteri Umno and Azalina as well as on reports which implicated him in the resignation of Keadilan Youth vice-chairperson Hamdan Taha.

Zahid was alleged to have successfully persuaded Hamdan to relinquish his party post last year but remain as ordinary member in order to persuade Zahids other followers such as Zahid Mat Arip, Hanapiah Man and Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to return to Umno.

The former Umno Youth chief also granted an exclusive interview to malaysiakini last October, in which he spoke of the need for self-discipline in all levels of Umno for the party to continue leading the nation.