Umno’s no-video offer to shield Najib, Rosmah

As campaigning begins, Zahid prepares for Pakatan onslaught on 'first couple'

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Umno has offered not to show campaign videos of a personal nature in Permatang Pauh, in what looks like a preemptive attempt to shield Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor from attacks by Pakatan Rakyat.

Umno’s campaign manager, vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the Barisan Nasional had no intention of personally attacking anyone from the opposition and that Pakatan Rakyat should do the same.

However, Umno members have in the past released videos of a man resembling opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim engaging in sex with a woman described as a prostitute from China.

Last week, Zahid had announced there would be a “shocking surprise” which would change the political landscape of Permatang Pauh, to which PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli said he hoped it would not be another sex video.

Earlier today, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang outlined five major campaign issues, which included Anwar Ibrahim’s jailing, the financial scandals of 1Malaysia Development Bhd, and Najib Razak’s failures.

Opposition election campaign videos in the past have focused on Najib’s purported involvement with murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was killed by two former police VIP bodyguards allegedly on orders from above. One video was of Najib taking an oath to deny any involvement.

The recent lavish wedding of Najib’s daughter to a highly-connected Kazakh personality is still in the news, coupled with news reports on the high-spending lifestyle of Najib’s stepson from Rosmah’s previous marriage, and his connections to high-living businessman Jho Low, and Rosmah’s own lifestyle and reputation for expensive handbags and shopping sprees under question.

Videos and photographs of the wedding have been circulating on the Internet. Last week, as Najib made an official visit to Indonesia, the well-respected news weekly Tempo carried an article under the headline “Hidup Mewah Sang Perdana Menteri” (The Luxurious Life of the Prime Minister) which discussed Rosmah’s range of expensive Birkin handbags and jewellery, among other aspects of their lifestyle.

Zahid made no mention of these when he spoke at a campaign event, launching Puteri Umno’s election machinery. He said BN had no intention of personally attacking anyone from the opposition and that PR should do the same.

“And I would like to say that none of the (BN) videos that will be viewed will touch on any personal matters,” he was quoted as saying.

However, he threatened police action against any opposition party’s campaign workers “distributing a video touching on personal matters”.

He said: “I guarantee that a police report will be made and an investigation will be conducted immediately.”

Zahid is home minister, overseeing the police force.

Permatang Pauh’s 71,900 registered voters go to the polls on May 7 to choose a new MP to replace Anwar, who was disqualified on being jailed for sodomy. His wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, seeks to take his place as she did when he was last jailed. She faces three challengers, from Barisan Nasional, Parti Rakyat Malaysia and an independent.