Responding to those who described her as a "nenek" (grandmother) who won the Kajang by-election, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said she emerged victorious with the support of young voters.

The PKR president pointed out that despite being a grandmother, she could still convince young voters to back her and not her younger rival from MCA, Chew Mei Fun.

"The backing was more from young voters, although I was labelled a grandmother who should be looking after her grandchildren," Wan Azizah told the Selangor state assembly today.
                
Furthermore, the Kajang assemblyperson said, even a grandmother could contribute her services to her constituents.

The issue cropped up when the state BN opposition raised the issue of a drop in PKR’s majority in the by-election as compared with the last general election.

BN raises drop in majority...

In the March 23 by-election, Wan Azizah defeated the MCA vice-president by a majority of 5,379 votes. In the previous election, PKR had won the seat with a majority of 6,824 votes.

However, the voter turnout was 72 percent, significantly lower than the 88 percent recorded during last year's May 5 general election.

Meanwhile, a commotion erupted in the state assembly when Wan Azizah referred to the Bar Council’s view regarding her husband Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case.

The Bar Council had denounced the guilty verdict as it criminalised consensual sexual relationship between two persons and questioned why complainant Saiful Bukhari Azlan (left) was not hauled to court as well.

BN-Kuang assemblyperson Abdul Shukor Idrus stood up without permission and castigated Wan Azizah's statement.

This prompted Deputy Speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to reprimand him and turn off his microphone.

"Kuang (Abdul Shukor), if you cannot stand hearing this, you can leave, like opposition leader (Shamsuddin Lias).

"But if you want to sit in the House, then ask permission (before speaking). Read the standing orders," Nik Nazmi said.