The former information chief of Puteri Umno, Mastina Abdul Hamid today submitted a letter to the party secretary-general to seek clarification on the age limit for contenders for the wing's top post.

Mastina, who has expressed her intention to contest for the number one post of the young women's movement in its inaugural contest on Nov 1, said she was referring to article 4.1 of Puteri Umno's constitution which states the age limit for members as from 18 to 35 years old.

"I would like to seek clarification from the supreme council on whether someone whose age has passed the limit, and should therefore no longer qualify to be a Puteri (Umno) member, can contest for the number one post," she told malaysiakini after submitting a three-page letter to secretary-general Khalil Yaakob's office this morning.

Confident of support

In her letter, Mastina, 31, also questioned whether Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said (photo) whose age at 38 years falls into the age bracket of Umno's women wing is eligible to contest.

Mastina also requested Khalil to set up a monitoring committee to ensure that divisional meetings are held according to the rules.

Besides having Mastina as a possible challenger, Azalina is expected to face another contender, Raihan Suleiman Palestine, 35.

On her intention to contest against her boss-turned-enemy, Mastina said she is confident that she will get the minimum two nominations needed to qualify as a candidate.

"Of course, the state chiefs will be saying that they are all behind Azalina seeing as they are all appointed into their posts.... I am sure that members at the grassroots level can make their own decision," she added.

She also maintained that her action is nothing personal and that the people will not find her spreading dirt about Azalina.

Not revenge

"I am not going against Azalina out of revenge (for being indiscriminately sacked from the exco lineup), but because I am capable of taking the movement to a greater level.

"I will not be telling people about all her alleged misconducts," she added.

"We shall not forget that Puteri Umno belongs to all (members) and not any particular person within the movement," stressed Mastina, who has been involved in Umno while studying in the United Kingdom.

"I am doing this not for my own sake, but rather for all Puteri members," she added.

Asked whether she will negotiate with Raihan should both get nominated in order to not split the vote against Azalina, Mastina said, "I would be even willing to compromise with Azalina herself if that will benefit Puteri Umno."

Prior to the letter from Mastina today, two wing members have lodged separate reports on Azalina's alleged misconduct to Khalil yesterday.

The reports were submitted by Azalina's former close aide, Elly @ Zalilah Mohd Yusof, and Raihan.

Last week, Elly had lodged a police report regarding the matter after charging that her complaints about Azalina to senior party leaders were ignored.

Misconduct

Yesterday, several state chiefs promised to throw their weight behind Azalina and said they would ensure that their respective divisions will be nominating her.

Nevertheless, they said that it was still up to the members to pick whomever they think is capable of leading the two-year-old wing.

Kedah Puteri Umno chief Suraya Yaacob said the members are not affected by the reports against Azalina because she has yet to be proven guilty.

Among others, Elly charged that some members had been issued two memberships and Azalina had abused her position by registering four vehicles belonging to the wing in her brother and her girlfriend's names although both have no links with Puteri Umno at all.

In April, publisher Khalid Jaffri in his tabloid Perdana Sari , alleged that Azalina had a sexual relation with a wife of a prominent businessman and had even spent RM300,000 of Puteri Umno's funds to buy her a luxury car as a birthday gift.

Khalil is the infamous author of the book 50 dalil kenapa Anwar tidak boleh jadi perdana menteri (50 reasons why Anwar cannot become prime minister), which was the start of a series of events leading to the downfall of ex-deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim who is now serving a 15-year jail term for corruption and sexual misconduct. Anwar has denied the charges.

Azalina is expected to return to Malaysia this evening from Finland where she had attended the Asia-Europe Dialogue.