A Puteri Umno member today slammed a former aspirant to the wing's top post, Mastina Abdul Hamid, for her 'turncoat' support of Azalina Othman Said who made a clean sweep of the nominations to lead the movement.

The criticism came following Mastina's call to members to "support the new leader" in an English daily after the month-long nomination closed on Oct 15.

The shocked Puteri Umno member who requested anonymity called Mastina an "opportunist" who is trying do damage control from challenging Azalina and to regain acceptance in the two-year-old movement.

Mastina, who was previously sacked by Azalina as information chief, was one of five members who had offered themselves for nomination to contest for the top post.

However, none of the five received any nomination from the wing's165 branches to be eligible for the inaugural election on Nov 1.

"Obviously, Mastina is trying to do something for her personal gain here," said the Puteri Umno member who was a close supporter of Mastina.

Shocked by action

She said the Puteri Umno members who were against Azalina's alleged wrongdoings were shocked by Mastina's action.

"Perhaps she is hoping to be given a post by Azalina so that she could re-establish herself in the movement and offer herself to contest for the number one post three years from now," the source told malaysiakini .

"If she ever returns to Azalina's fold, we definitely will have no respect for her at all," she said.

She stressed that Azalina did not deserve any support until she is cleared of all the allegations of misconduct or her innocence proven after police investigations are completed.

When contacted, Mastina said her supporters may have misunderstood her statement, which she admitted was quoted properly in the media.

"Of course, as a Puteri Umno member, I have to support whoever is made the movement's chief as long as it is done constitutionally," she said.

"Unlike Azalina's other contenders who came from Wanita Umno, I am obliged to support her because she has been made a leader through the democratic process," she added.

Opportunist denial

On accusations that she is an opportunist, Mastina said the matter should not be made an issue as she sees her contributions going to Puteri Umno, not Azalina.

"I have nothing personal against Azalina. However, that doesn't mean that I should agree with her all the time," Mastina said.

On allegations made against Azalina that she is a lesbian and involved in misappropriation of wing's funds, Mastina said the former's victory will not stop her from probing for the truth.

Asked whether she would accept a post if offered by Azalina, Mastina said such a thing has never crossed her mind.

"Maybe. I will think about it," said Mastina who had claimed she was indiscriminately sacked by Azalina early this year.

Another challenger who failed, Raihan Sulaimen Palestine, was not as 'accepting' of Azalina's victory, saying there was "no way" she would congratulate the 38-year-old lawyer.

Prove lesbian charge

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said any action against Azalina on allegations that she is a lesbian must be based on proof.

Speaking to the media at the Umno Supreme Council meeting today, Mahathir, who is also the Umno president, said it is clear that the party does not accept 'homosexual culture' and action can be taken against those who engage in such practices.

Mahathir, who handpicked Azalina to lead the movement when it was initiated, said this when asked on the party's stand on the allegations hurled at her by another challenger, Ummi Hafilda Ali.

Ummi Hafilda, 35, was one of the key people who in 1998 convinced Mahathir that then deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim was homosexual.

She was also an instrumental witness in Anwar's corruption and sodomy trials. Anwar was found guilty of both charges and slapped with a 15-year jail term.