Azalina: Rafizi desperate in blaming voters

(Bernama) – Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said today lashed out at PKR Vice-President Rafizi Ramli for claiming that the Barisan Nasional victory in the two by-elections last Saturday was the result of two “diseases” plaguing the people.

Azalina said Rafizi was desperate and could not accept the Opposition defeat in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar parliamentary by-elections.

“When they won in Kelantan, Penang and Selangor in the last general election, we (BN) did not question, belittle or look down on the choice of the people in those states.

“In fact, we gave our commitment to work together with them as it was the choice of the people there,” she told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby here.

She was commenting on Rafizi’s statement last Sunday that the people were suffering from two diseases – racial or religious sentiments as well as materialism – that they let BN win in the by-elections.

Azalina, who is an Umno Supreme Council member, said BN’s victory in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar proved that the Opposition was no longer relevant.

“In Parliament, the Opposition never fights for issues of the people in their constituencies.

“All the issues they bring up are irrelevant and more of personal issues or personal attacks. So, I feel the people are fed up with them.”

Azalina added that BN’s victory was a signal from the people to BN to continue serving and to have continuity in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar, proving that it was relevant to the people.

In the Sungai Besar by-election, BN’s Budiman Mohd Zohdi obtained 16,800 votes to win a three-cornered contest with a majority of 9,191 votes while in Kuala Kangsar BN candidate Mastura Mohd Yazid garnered 12,653 votes to win a four-cornered fight with a majority of 6,969 votes.