Back-stabbing within Puteri Umno will cause the downfall of the movement and its leader Azalina Othman, says former exco-member Erma Fatima.

Denying the rumours that she and five other former members conspired to topple Azalina, the filmmaker-cum-actress advised these back-stabbers to stop spreading rumours as such action only damage the organisation.

"I don't want to entertain these mad people. They are back-stabbers and play dirty politics which I do not want to get involved with. As a new and clean organisation, you'd think that the members wouldn't know how to play dirty politics, but surprisingly, they know! In fact they are terribly good in those games," Erma told malaysiakini today.

Asked whether she planned to issue any statement against the rumours which are widely circulated in the Internet, she said she would only do so if the allegation is made in major newspapers.

She also said she did not know the identities of the rumour instigators.

"But I do know the identities of those who went to several newspapers to fitnah (slander) me. They thought the media don't know me. So when the reporters called me about the rumours, [I told them] it was all a lie.

"That is the problem with this type of people. They stab here and there just to get members to go against each other. This is very unhealthy for the organisation and I urge them to stop before it is too late," she said.

Challenge

Erma stressed that she had done no wrong to anyone in the organisation and is puzzled why some members want to create trouble for her and Azalina.

"If these people want to continue spreading the lies against me, I challenge them to go to the major newspapers. I am still very patient at this point. I don't want to make statements for fear of damaging Puteri Umno's reputation. But if they dare go to the major papers with their so-called evidence, then I would reply officially," she said, adding that she has already prepared her statement.

"They accused me of going to Perdana Sari and giving information to the editor to damage Azalina's reputation. I don't even know where the office is and what (the editor) Khalid Jafri looks like! If I wanted to damage Azalina, which I have no reason to do so, I wouldn't have gone to the tabloids. I would have gone to the major dailies.

"Besides, I've many other things to do. I am more concerned with my new movie, Embun , which is scheduled to be officially released at KLCC by Information Minister Khalil Yaakob in July," she said.

Misreporting

She also commented on the alleged conversation between her and other Puteri Umno members identified only as Ros, Duri and Shila which was published in AgendaDaily.com recently.

"Yes, I was called for a meeting with Azalina. But she could not make it. The conversation took place but I am not sure whether all that was said by me was published," she said.

Erma also claimed that a recent front-page report in a local tabloid which alleged that she had challenged Azalina to answer the sexual misconduct allegation was misreported.

"I went to the tabloid in relation to my new movie. They asked me to comment on the allegations against Azalina. I merely said that they should ask Azalina instead. The next thing I knew, the paper had reported that I 'challenged' Azalina. It's very upsetting but I am still patient. I am abstaining from making comments to preserve Puteri Umno's good name," she said.

She stressed that she still considers Azalina a friend.

"I never had problems with Azalina or Puteri Umno. Although I no longer participate in Puteri Umno's activities, I still believe in its struggle," Erma said.