Umno vice-president Muhammad Muhd Taib (photo) today told the different factions within Puteri Umno to resolve their problems internally in the run-up to the wing's inaugural election.

He said the members should be "mature enough" to settle their differences without seeking the intervention of high-ranking Umno leaders.

"At the moment, my advice is that they should learn how to resolve the problem among themselves, internally," he stressed when contacted.

Admitting that the crisis in the wing could affect Umno's image, Muhammad said the only remedy was that the matter be solved amicably by those responsible for the split.

"There is nothing else that I can say about that," he added.

Yesterday, a former close aide of Puteri Umno chief Azalina Othman Said exposed several discrepancies in the movement and had lodged a police report on the matter the previous day.

Resorting to gangsterism

Among others, Elly Zalilah Yusof (photo), accused Azalina of abusing her power as well as resorting to gangsterism to intimidate her political foes.

Elly also admitted to having spied for Azalina on those whom the lawyer-cum-politician viewed as potential threats to her position.

She said she decided to lodge the police report after one of the senior Umno leaders she had approached told her that the matter should be handled by the police.

Azalina, 38, was handpicked by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to lead the two-year-old wing which was set up to attract younger women into the Umno fold.

Elly also claimed that the reason behind this expos was to rescue the movement from a leadership which she described as "not credible".

She is now part of the 'Enam Jahanam' (The Wicked 6), the label given by Azalina's supporters to former exco members and close aides said to be plotting to oust her as the wing's chief.

To date, two members Mastina Abdul Hamid and Raihan Suleiman Palestine have expressed their intention to contest again Azalina (photo) in the Nov 1 elections.

The duo were previously in the Puteri Umno exco line-up but were sacked by Azalina.

Meanwhile, another sacked exco member told malaysiakini that her former boss was an "immature" person.

"It is just like a bunch school kids forming a society, and yet everyone has to listen to only one person, because she is the biggest of all," said the member who declined to be named.