Will Pakatan Rakyat candidate Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail have trouble dividing her time between Kajang and Permatang Pauh?

Not to worry, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali have come to her rescue.

Speaking at a ceramah in Permatang Pauh last night, Lim pooh-poohed Umno's argument that Wan Azizah would not have enough time for Kajang, of which she is the state representative and Permatang Pauh, should she win the by-election.

"... Azmin will take care of Kajang. I will take care of voters in Permatang Pauh," he said to applause from the audience, numbering some 150.

Stressing that they needed a leader with principles and integrity, Lim then heaped praises on Wan Azizah, pointing out how she was a top student in her university days.

"She was the first Malaysian student to win a gold medal (in obstetrics and gynaecology). And it was from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, which is not a ‘kangkong’ university.

"This one she could not win using ‘cables’ (connections), this was based on her own capabilities. We should be proud of someone special like her," he said.

Azmin, on the other hand, told reporters after the ceramah that since Kajang is under the Selangor state administration, he is responsible to ensure its development.

"I am satisfied with her (Wan Azizah) performance. Although she is new (as state representative), she has solved problems from floods to traffic jams. This shows how she is capable to administer as a state representative.

"And, of course, with support from the state government, we will ensure a reasonable allocation is given together with monitoring from the Kajang Municipal Council.

"I believe she will continue being efficient (as state rep), apart from her role as Permatang Pauh MP after May 7, insyaAllah (God willing)," he said.

No need for manifesto

Meanwhile, Azmin said there was no reason to launch a manifesto for the by-election since the Penang state government had implemented many programmes for the state.

"The Penang state government has implemented various programmes since 2008 and the chief minister has announced many welfare programmes and more than 30,000 people in Permatang Pauh have been the recipient of such programmes.

"A manifesto for the by-election alone is not necessary as the state government is the one which holds the responsibility (to implement welfare programmes and development for the state), including for Permatang Pauh,” he said.

Azmin then pointed out how Wan Azizah had done a good job as a state assemblyperson compared to other Umno state representatives who "did not even take care of their own state constituencies".

BN's election director Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also Umno vice-president, yesterday said PKR should launch its manifesto but must not "lie" to the rakyat.