Rumours intensify over possible challenge for Puteri Umno chief post

comments     Nash Rahman     Published     Updated

The Umno Supreme Council's decision last Friday to accord the post of vice-president to the person at the helm of the Puteri Umno wing has intensified rumours of a possible challenge to current chief Azalina Othman during the wing's upcoming election.

Puteri Umno will hold its inaugural election in October after the Special Umno General Assembly next month approves the wing's constitution.

Talks is circulating that Azalina would be challenged by one of the wing's six former exco members who relinquished their posts due to differences with the former.

The six are known as the ' Enam jahanam ' (the wicked six) among Azalina's supporters.

The Puteri Umno chief, a lawyer turned politician, was embroiled in controversy recently when a tabloid, Perdana Sari , alleged that she was a lesbian and had used the wing's money to buy her lover a luxury car.

Though coverage of the issue has dwindled in the mainstream media, two pro-Umno websites — Kelab Maya Umno and Selangordaily.com — are still providing extensive reports on the matter.

Both websites which have clearly expressed their support for the leader have been publishing various articles in a bid to clear her name.

Duo interrogated

Among them is the transcript from an alleged meeting between Azalina's faction and two former exco members, Rohaya Atan and Erma Fatima.

Selangordaily.com reported that the duo were "interrogated" over their "involvement" in a plot to tarnish Azalina's reputation.

The report said Rohaya had insisted that she would only talk to Azalina personally, or deputy Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi or Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Both Rohaya and Erma were said to have earlier received a SMS message from Azalina asking them to meet her.

According to the transcript the duo were later told by a person identified only as Roy that Azalina could not attend and had instructed the others known as Ros, Orkid, Duri and Shila, to proceed with the meeting.

They tried to coax the duo into listing out their dislikes concerning Azalina and even offered to arrange a meeting with Mahathir and Abdullah.

Azalina's aides also reportedly told the duo that the Puteri Umno chief is willing to step down if they could provide proof about her allegations.

Providing ammunition

The transcript further added that Erma was accused of providing Perdana Sari with the ammunition to attack Azalina.

Erma, a popular actress, was also alleged to have asked another tabloid to publish stories following the suspension of Perdana Sari 's publishing permit. Erma denied the charges.

The Home Affairs Ministry said the suspension was not related to Azalina's story but to certain explicit photographs published in its latest edition.

Perdana Sari is published by Khalid Jafri, an author who earned fame with his 1998 book 50 Dalil kenapa Anwar tidak boleh jadi PM .

The book cited 50 reasons, including homosexuality, as to why ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim could not become prime minister, hit the stands shortly before he was sacked.

Anwar is currently serving a 15-year jail term for sodomy and corruption.



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