Azalina: Pengerang attacks a bid to fish sympathy?

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman has questioned whether the alleged attacks on vehicles en-route to last Sunday's protest against a multi-million dollar petrochemical plant in her constituency was a bid to fish sympathy ahead of the general election.

"I have been MP for the people of Pengerang for two terms, I know they are not violent. I want to ask, why this happens only when they come here?” she said at a press conference in the Parliament lobby this afternoon.

"I don't know (whether or not) they did this to themselves for sympathy. Even if this did happen, why was no police report lodged? I have checked and no police report was lodged."

Last Sunday, the windscreen of PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub's vehicle was reportedly smashed while he was on the way to the protest venue.

Social activist Hishammuddin Rais and citizen journalist Azizan Yunos's vehicles were splashed with acid.

The protest, dubbed 'Himpunan Hijau Lestari Pengerang' was against the RM60 million Petronas Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (Rapid) project.

Azalina also dismissed the significance of the protest, claiming that a large part of those who took part were from other places.

"There are about 33,000 voters in my constituency. Those who attended were only about 3,000. I see that this is a minority and the majority are supportive of the project," she said.

She added that seven to 10 villages are affected by the project, but that the new township to be created for their relocation will allow them to enjoy upgraded facilities.

Lawsuit against Johor PAS deputy chief?

Azalina also threatened to sue Johor PAS deputy commissioner Mazlan Aliman for his speech during the protest which insinuated that she was responsible for the Rapid project.

"He accused me of being responsible for bringing the project to Pengerang and that I convinced the prime minister that it is safe... His statement was made in bad faith.

"I have never done anything that would sideline the views of the people and I only met the prime minister to discuss a training programme for youths who can participate in the oil and gas sector.”

She said her lawyers will send a letter of demand to Mazlan (left), seeking a public apology.

"I will sue him if he does not apologise, as well as (PAS organ) Harakahand news portals... My lawyers are monitoring this," she said.

She challenged Mazlan to release the documents that he claims to possess, purportedly showing her involvement in the project.

She also flayed Pakatan Rakyat for not taking on the issue based on facts and criticised PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub for dodging her challenge to a debate on the issue.