A letter purportedly penned by PKR vice-president Azmin Ali condemning Zaid Ibrahim is being circulated online ahead of the party polls.

The letter lists out 32 reasons why Pakatan Rakyat coordinator Zaid Ibrahim should not be fielded by PKR in the Hulu Selangor by-election in April.

The blogosphere is now rife with claims that the letter, addressed to Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, was proof that Azmin was out to undermine Zaid through dirty tactics.

The letter had listed down a slew of reasons, among them stating that BN will target Zaid's moral character and paint him as "an alcoholic who loves to gamble".

It was also said in the letter that Umno will take advantage his record of money politics in Umno, from which he was sacked in Dec 2008 after eight years of membership.

'Not Azmin's style'

While Azmin himself cannot be reached for comment on the letter, Khalid's officers have denied that the MB had received it.

NONE His political secretary Faekah Husin ( right ) said: "No such letter was received by the MB before the by-election".

Khalid's former political secretary at the time of the by-election Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also dismissed the letter.

"I have never seen such letter. I don't think Azmin wrote it. This is very silly," he said.

However, Zaid refused to confirm or deny the authenticity of the letter.

"I knew during the Hulu Selangor (by-election) that some people did not want me to win. I believe it was sent from a Blackberry (mobile phone)," he told Malaysiakini in a text message.

Letter an election ploy?

But the letter, dated April 5, had raised eyebrows within PKR with some dismissing it as a "fake", especially when the party is nearing its elections slated to be held at the end of this year.

NONE With contest for deputy presidency between Zaid ( left ) and Azmin hotting up, many PKR insiders are speculating that it could be an election ploy to influence the voters.

It was also previously speculated the Zaid-Azmin relationship has been frosty with the most recent example when Zaid's camp had openly blamed Azmin for sabotaging the by-election campaign, causing Zaid to lose to MIC's P Kamalanathan.

Questions were also raised on why the letter would be addressed to Khalid, urging him to "review" the party's decision to field Zaid as a candidate when it is PKR political bureau which decides on by-election candidates.

Khalid was the party's election machinery chief for the Hulu Selangor by-election campaign.