Search for hidden hand in UMNO smear attack

Search for hidden hand in UMNO smear attack

Joceline Tan, The Star, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia

The last few weeks have been a hell of sorts for Puteri United
Malays National Organization (UMNO) head Azalina Othman Said. As
news that Malay weekly Perdana Sari had "exposed" her as a
lesbian trickled out, the normally active lawyer-politician began
to cut back on her public activities.

She ignored the reports, hoping they would go away, but the
paper, which saw its first printing on March 31, grew bolder and,
by the third week, had named and published a color picture of her
alleged lover. It also accused her of fiddling with political
funds to buy a RM300,000 (S$142,900) Mercedes-Benz for her
alleged lover, all of which she has denied.

Its publisher, Khalid Jafri, hinted he had "evidence" and even
challenged her to sue him.

She has had to deal with questions about her sexuality, her
political style and ambitions from Day One of her venture into
UMNO politics. And she has handled those situations with
remarkable poise.

She has deflected, time and again, insinuations that she was
gay by asking: "Are you saying I am a lesbian because I am
unmarried and don't have a husband or children? Is it because I
wear trouser suits and don't cover my head? Is it because I talk
and laugh loudly? Is it because I don't look feminine or giggle?"

She has always been comfortable with the way she looks --
stocky and tomboyish.

She did not feel she had to conform, although she had joined a
political party that is conservative at heart and enforces strict
party discipline.

So why does she appear to be crumbling this time? This may
have to do with the vicious and unbridled nature of the
accusations and the fact that the person behind it, Khalid,
played a role in the downfall of former deputy premier Anwar
Ibrahim.

Another reason is the deafening silence within UMNO. She has
told those she is close to that "nobody is defending me". Her
family has also been deeply affected. Her father was so upset, he
told her: "Resign! You don't have to take all this."

The Star understands that she has met the Prime Minister and
Deputy Prime Minister. They have heard her out, advised her to
ignore the allegations and keep a low profile for now. Basically,
people are waiting for the facts to unfold before taking a stand.

Yet, just weeks ago, she and her Puteri wing were seen as
having helped UMNO forge new ground during one of the lowest
points in the party's history. At the party general assembly next
month, Puteri UMNO will be formalized as a constitutional wing of
the party.

"Whatever people say, she is one of the best things to have
happened in UMNO. She brought back idealism to the political
struggle," said Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar.

He has had a soft spot for the spunky lawyer-politician since
the day he moved her call to the Bar and also made her sign up as
a member of UMNO. But he has also despaired occasionally at her
impetuous style.

The novelty over the salacious allegations has graduated into
curiosity over who might be behind the smear attack. As Datuk
Seri Syed Hamid implied, she has made enemies in her swift rise
to the top.

A little-known fact: Her BMW had all its windows smashed last
year. Fingers have been pointed at several former Puteri leaders
whom she had sacked.

Others point out that Khalid is known to be a "writer-for-
hire" and his weekly is simply out to make as much money and
impact as it can while it lasts.

Yet others see the current episode as an attempt to derail the
formalizing of Puteri UMNO as a party wing or, at least, to
embarrass her and curb her ascent.

But the question remains: Who is the dalang, or puppet-master?
The enemy, many in UMNO seem to think, is within. UMNO politics
is riddled with rivalry, grudges and petty jealousy, and she has
apparently stepped on more than a few toes, some of which belong
to very important people.

Meanwhile, her side is not taking all this lying down. Her
accusers have apparently skeletons in their own cupboards and her
supporters in women's groups are doing some serious digging.

Will she survive this ordeal? Said Datuk Seri Syed Hamid: "I
hope she survives, although she ought to understand by now that
the world of politics can be very, very cruel."