Fridae

Ummi Hafilda Ali will submit a report to the UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) president containing proof of the allegations of sexual misconduct against pro tem Puteri UMNO chief Azalina Othman, according to The Star newspaper.

On Saturday, she said that she would not allow Azalina to walk free and lead the Puteri UMNO movement because of what she claimed as Azalina's "unacceptable sexual preference."

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was quoted by the Berita Harian newspaper as saying that she - a key witness in the former deputy premier's sodomy trial, should not make wild allegations against Azalina. Ummi Hafilda who was one of four contenders who challenged Azalina for the Puteri chief post also told the PM about Anwar Ibrahim's alleged immoral activities in 1997.

During the nomination period of the recent Puteri election, Ummi Hafilda had urged the divisions to pick anyone but Azalina for the post but the 37-year-old swept all the 165 nominations when the meetings ended on Oct 16.

After the UMNO supreme council meeting on Friday, Dr Mahathir said those making the allegations should be able to prove it and added that the party would kick out leaders who indulged in homosexual or lesbian activities as this "kind of culture" was not acceptable.

The scandal started when the first of a series of articles appeared in an April issue of the then-new Malay-language tabloid, Perdana Sari. The paper alleged that the leader of the ruling UMNO youth wing for women is a lesbian, published a colour photograph of her alleged lover and accused her of using party funds to buy a RM300,000 (US$79,000) Mercedes-Benz.

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It is also known that the paper's chief editor and publisher is Khalid Jafri, the author of the controversial book 50 Reasons Why Anwar Ibrahim Cannot Become the Prime Minister. The widely circulated book which contained graphic sexual allegations as well as accusations of corruption against Anwar unleashed a chain of events leading to the then deputy premier's controversial ouster and arrest in September 1998, and subsequent imprisonment.

On Monday, Ummi Hafilda who has been accused of violating the party's code of ethics by using the media to influence votes in the Puteri election, will face the disciplinary committee to explain her actions.

Meanwhile, Azalina, Puteri UMNO and the PM have remained in deep denial. Unlike Anwar who denied the allegations and filed a defamation complaint against Khalid, Azalina is choosing to ignore the allegations against her. "I will not waste money to take legal action against the paper," she said, adding that the people responsible for the allegations were "mentally not stable."

Media reports have also noted that unlike Anwar, Azalina still appears to enjoy Mahathir's backing. "If you sue the persons, they will come up with all kinds of accusations and this will spread in the press," said Dr Mahathir. "You might be innocent but by that time, you are finished."