Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said today pointed the finger at the opposition and opportunists within her movement as the likely culprits out to stir trouble and unhinge the ruling party's year-old wing.

She said this when answering questions on the controversies that have besieged the wing in recent months during a media conference held after the Puteri Umno convention at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Azalina said the opportunists were those who joined the wing as a shortcut to gain power and business contracts and have no compunction about practising corruption and money politics.

"It is hard to tell peoples' intention...and we cannot reject their applications because they are Malaysians with identity cards and the right sex (female) to join our movement," she said.

During her speech earlier, Azalina described the troublemakers as "sores" out to kill Puteri Umno even when it is still at the pro-tem stage.

The lawyer-cum-politician attracted adverse publicity recently when a Malay tabloid Perdana Sari alleged that the 38-year-old leader was a lesbian, and had misappropriated RM300,000 of the wing's fund to buy a luxury car for her lover.

The tabloid's publisher, Khalid Jafri, also authored the controversial book '50 Dalil Kenapa Anwar Tidak Boleh Menjadi Perdana Menteri' in 1998 which led to the exit of former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

Perdana Sari claimed six Puteri Umno exco members, including artistes Erra Fazira and Erma Fatima, resigned from their posts because of jealousy shown by Azalina's partner who is also involved in the new wing.

Possible contest

Asked if her post will be contested in the wing's inaugural election this October, Azalina replied, "Anyone who is a Puteri Umno member can contest in any post, including those who have just joined the movement."

She said none of the Puteri Umno members including the six former exco members submitted any application to resign from the movement and added that every member was entitled to take part in the election.

Azalina has also said recently that she bodes no ill-feeling towards those who have resigned from their posts.

Tomorrow, the Umno General Assembly is expected to pass a resolution to fully endorse Puteri Umno, making its chief one of six vice-presidents in the party.

In winding up an earlier debate, Azalina said she has received an invitation from PAS to attend a dialogue concerning hudud law on June 29.

She said she would be attending the function despite having to pay the 'RM15 participation fee' as stipulated in the invitation letter.

"I think I'll bring Puteri Umno members to the forum so that PAS will get more money," she said in jest, drawing laughter from the crowd.