By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal
KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — PKR’s Azmin Ali today demanded that his detractors leave his mother and family “out of politics”, accusing Umno of invading his privacy.
Umno-owned TV3 had on Saturday evening featured Azmin’s mother Che Tom Yahaya in an exclusive interview where she pleaded for the PKR deputy president to return to the family.
“I am pleading to the media to not disturb my mother and for Umno to not drag my mother into Umno’s dirty and disgusting politics.
“Family institutions, familial ties are important but it is not to be ridiculed by the media,” Azmin said in a statement.
He stressed that he had always been a filial son, saying that he had never wronged his mother despite what his mother had said in the television interview.
“I love and respect my mother, and pray she will always be protected by Allah and receive his blessing... I am also thankful to be blessed with a loyal wife Shida and children who understand my struggle,” he said.
The Gombak MP said he will focus on his duties as party deputy chief and election director ahead of a looming general election.
Azmin’s mother’s television interview was featured on most mainstream newspapers yesterday, in which she related how Azmin had cut ties with her after he became angry to find his estranged sister Umi Hafilda Ali at his family’s home last year.
“I have not disowned him but if he wishes to return there are two conditions. Return to the right path and repent to Allah, and stop being with that group (PKR).
“Many of his friends have already left, he should too, then he can return,” she was quoted as saying.
Azmin has been Umno’s latest target, where several Umno-owned newspapers and blogs published photographs allegedly showing him engaging in sexual acts with an unidentified woman.
Last Wednesday, Utusan Malaysia published stills of a video taken from several blogs which depict a man resembling Azmin and an unidentified woman in various compromising positions.
The PKR leader has since said he was suing Utusan Malaysia for RM100 million in damages for publishing fake photographs of him engaging in various sexual acts with a woman.
He had also issued a letter of demand to Utusan Malaysia (Melayu) Bhd and its editors to withdraw the claims and to publish a public apology in the Umno paper’s front page.