PKR resorts to name calling

Independent candidate Aminah Abdullah's bribery allegations against the PKR saw an sharp retort from PKR vice-president Azmin Ali last night when he resorted to name calling in attacking the former party leader.

He said that Aminah's accusations were senseless and urged her to look at her own reflection in the mirror before making wild and baseless claims against her former friends.

Speaking at a Pakatan Rakyat by-election rally in Penanti last night, Azmin ridiculed Aminah, whom he repeatedly referred to as ‘Minah Ronggeng' (woman with low morals), for claiming that PKR had offered her the position of deputy chief minister if she wins the by-election.

"Why would PKR offer a person like Minah Ronggeng the position of DCM? Why would we offer her when we have a former professor as our candidate?" he asked.

"Minah Ronggeng should see her face first on the mirror before making such senseless accusations," the Gombak parliamentarian told some 1,000 villagers in Kubang Ulu, drawing laughter from the crowd.

The PKR candidate for the by-election is former Universiti Sains Malaysia academician Mansor Othman who faces independent candidates Aminah, Nai Khan Ari Nai Keow and Kamarul Ramizu Idris in a four-cornered fight.

Aminah has accused two local PKR leaders - supreme council member Cheah Kah Peng and Batu Kawan division deputy chief Peter Lim - of attempting to bribe her with RM80,000 and the president's post in local municipalities if she were to withdraw from the contest.

She alleged that alternately she was offered by the two leaders, whom she referred as close friends, the DCM post if she proceeds to contest and wins the by-election instead.

She had given audio recordings and photographic evidence to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Election Commission to substantiate her reports.

What is her agenda?

The duo in question Cheah and Lim ( centre and far left ) did not deny of visiting Aminah at her home in Jelutong as close friends over a lunch prepared by her.

But they categorically denied making such offers and claimed that their lunch date in Aminah's house was a courtesy call on their own capacity, which they have done many times in the past.

Aminah's allegations and her subsequent statements have spiced up what is a dull electoral outing with the absence of PKR's arch-rival Umno.

Azmin raised questions on the real motive and political agenda of the party's former state women chief, suggesting that her allegations were merely to serve her hidden political masters.

"She hardly campaigned. She just issues press statements and moves around only with her family members as if she is running a private limited company.

"What's Minah Ronggeng intention to be here?" he asked.

Aminah has claimed she decided to contest Penanti to uphold the truth and justice, and threatened to expose more juicy stories about PKR during the campaign period.

However, when asked to reveal such allegations yesterday, she told journalists "to wait since there was still time".

Polling for Penanti is on Sunday, May 31.

Umno organising trips out of Penanti

Earlier Mansor accused Umno of trying to sabotage his electoral prospects by organising free chartered bus trip to several northern border towns for Penanti folks on the polling day.

"Never mind if Umno wants to exempt its members from voting. Hopefully, our supporters do not follow them. That would give us a problem," he told the rally.

The trips to Padang Besar, Bukit Kayu Hitam and Wang Kelian are said to be organised by local Umno branch leaders.

According several locals, the organisers have already drawn at least three busloads of participants.

"This is another dirty tactic deployed by Umno to stop voters from casting their ballots for me," said Mansor.

Since the campaign started on Saturday, several Pakatan leaders have warned voters to be wary on Umno's tacit propaganda calling them not to come out to vote given that Mansor's victory was a mere formality.

"This is dangerous. It could inflict PKR a shock defeat," warned Mansor.