Investigate Azalina to ensure fair election: new contender

comments     Yusof Ghani     Published     Updated

The latest contender for Puteri Umno's top post said the party's disciplinary committee should resolve all controversies surrounding pro tem chief Azalina Othman Said before the end of the nomination period to ensure a fair election for the two-year-old wing.

"It would be appropriate if matters pertaining to Azalina's misconduct are investigated immediately to ensure the nominations (at division level) are made without any doubt or prejudice," said Mazibah Mohd Zin, who announced her candidacy this morning.

The 39-year-old entrepreneur who is the fourth person to offer herself for nomination to lead the wing said Umno has its own constitution to allow investigation to be carried out on Azalina.

"Similarly, the police also have to carry out the investigation within the law," she said when asked on her stand on allegations against Azalina.

Mazibah was referring to the several allegations by former close aides who fell out with the controversial pro tem chief earlier this year.

Among them were Elly @ Zalilah Mohd Yusof, 26, who has lodged reports with the police and the Umno management and disciplinary committee against Azalina.

The allegations included the registration of four vehicles bought with the wing's funds in the names of people who have no links with Puteri Umno, the wing having three separate accounts and the funds raised at a function for Afghan refugees that were alleged to have gone missing.

The Negeri Sembilan-born Mazibah who is a member of the Kuala Pilah Wanita Umno division said her involvement in politics began in 1995 when she was made vice-chief for the division.

She relinquished her post last year to concentrate on her human resource consultancy business but is making a comeback to active politics after Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opened Puteri Umno's top post to all Umno woman members under the age of 40 last week.

Own decision

Mazibah, who holds an MBA from a United States university, refuted rumours that she has been 'planted' to shift votes in the pending wing's election.

She insisted she made her own decision to contest as she has the skills and experience to lead the wing.

"With the skills that I have, I believe that I am in a position to lead the wing," said Mazibah.

"I am not sponsored by anyone, and will definitely be contesting should I get the two nominations needed."

Mazibah said as an entrepreneur, she has always believed that healthy competition is good for all, "as long as it is carried out in professional manner".

She described the personal attacks on Azalina in the tussle for the wing's top post as "far from professional" but insisted her late announcement to contest was not done to help Azalina deny nominations for the two other candidates.

Mazibah insisted her intention to contest is hers alone though a rumour is also making the rounds that certain parties in Wanita Umno who are not on good terms with Azalina have helped sponsor Mazibah to deny the controversial chief from winning the election.

Useful skills

Meanwhile, she also believes that her human resource development skills will be put to good use in uniting the wing members who have been hit with a series of controversies since its inception.

"To me, such a crisis is normal in any newly formed organisations, and I have ways and means to deal with it should I become the chief," she added.

Although not a founding member of Puteri Umno, Mazibah said she has done her part in explaining to party grassroots on the rationale of the wing's presence, especially in Negeri Sembilan.

Apart from Azalina and Mazibah, the two other candidates are former Puteri Umno exco members, Raihan Suleiman Palestine and Mastina Abdul Hamid.

Both Raihan, 35, and Mastina, 31, claimed that Azalina sacked them because they posed a threat to her position.

However, only Azalina has been nominated so far, after 10 out of 165 divisions concluded their meetings last weekend.

The wing's constitution requires only two nominations for a contestant to bid for the top post. Its inaugural election will be held in November, the month-long nomination period at the division level ends Oct 15.



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