Umno legal adviser Mohd Hafarizam Harun’s statement that women are unsuitable to become menteri besar shows that he is “panicking” about the possible loss of the Kinrara-Damansara Expressway (Kidex) project, PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli claims.
“I’d suppose he can kiss his RM2 billion Kidex project goodbye if Wan Azizah comes to power.
“They are all people with vested interests; people who just say things to stall what seems to be a gaining momentum for Wan Azizah to be menteri besar of Selangor,” Rafizi told Malaysiakiniwhen contacted today.
Hafarizam (left) is a director in both Emrail Sdn Bhd and Zabima Engineering Construction Sdn Bhd, both of which are stakeholders in the highway concessionaire Kidex Sdn Bhd.
Emrail and Zabima Engineering, respectively, have a 70 percent stake and a 30 percent stake in Kidex Sdn Bhd.
Rafizi said Kajang assemblyperson Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail does not appear to be keen on Kidex, due to a supposed lack of public consultation on the highway's construction and public opposition to the project.
Wan Azizah is widely speculated to be one of the possible candidates to replace the incumbent Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar of Selangor.
'Rafizi missed the wood for the trees'
Meanwhile, Hafarizam when contacted by Malaysiakini said Rafizi had ‘missed the woods for the trees’, and pointed out that his comment published in the New Straits Times (NST) today was a legal interpretation, whereas Kidex is purely a commercial venture.
“It (Rafizi’s statement) is totally irrelevant, unconnected and off-tangent. Thus, I shall let it pass with the contempt that it deserves,” Hafarizam said.
Earlier today, NST quoted Hafarizam as saying that while the Selangor state constitution does not bar women from becoming menteri besar, Wan Azizah may find it difficult to perform her duties because her uzur sharie (menses) would prevent her from accompanying the Sultan on official functions.
Rafizi told Malaysiakinithat if there is a change in the Selangor menteri besar, Wan Azizah is the most likely replacement and the prospect of that happening frightens Umno.
Thus, Rafizi said, Hafarizam’s ‘stupid’ comments were part of Umno’s attempt to use the mainstream media and portray Wan Azizah as being unsuited for the post.
The main architect of PKR’s January ‘Kajang Move’ explained that Umno fears Wan Azizah because it would find it difficult to attack her without backfiring, making it necessary for Umno to change its strategies.
“Umno is so used to running down opposition (leaders). Umno says the worst of things. Umno uses alleged sex videos to confront Pakatan Rakyat.
“All these tactics that Umno would normally deploy would definitely backfire when it comes to Wan Azizah…
“It takes a more subtle kind of politics to confront (her); one that is more subtle, one that is more proper, one that has more courtesy. All these things do not exist in Umno, and especially in Umno Selangor,” Rafizi said.
Unlike Khalid, who he said was more focused on state administration, Wan Azizah would be more willing to engage with Umno’s attacks against her and that she would do so with wit.
“She can be very witty and people like that. That’s my observation of Kak Wan,” Rafizi added.
“I’d suppose he can kiss his RM2 billion Kidex project goodbye if Wan Azizah comes to power.
“They are all people with vested interests; people who just say things to stall what seems to be a gaining momentum for Wan Azizah to be menteri besar of Selangor,” Rafizi told Malaysiakiniwhen contacted today.
Hafarizam (left) is a director in both Emrail Sdn Bhd and Zabima Engineering Construction Sdn Bhd, both of which are stakeholders in the highway concessionaire Kidex Sdn Bhd.
Emrail and Zabima Engineering, respectively, have a 70 percent stake and a 30 percent stake in Kidex Sdn Bhd.
Rafizi said Kajang assemblyperson Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail does not appear to be keen on Kidex, due to a supposed lack of public consultation on the highway's construction and public opposition to the project.
Wan Azizah is widely speculated to be one of the possible candidates to replace the incumbent Abdul Khalid Ibrahim as menteri besar of Selangor.
'Rafizi missed the wood for the trees'
Meanwhile, Hafarizam when contacted by Malaysiakini said Rafizi had ‘missed the woods for the trees’, and pointed out that his comment published in the New Straits Times (NST) today was a legal interpretation, whereas Kidex is purely a commercial venture.
“It (Rafizi’s statement) is totally irrelevant, unconnected and off-tangent. Thus, I shall let it pass with the contempt that it deserves,” Hafarizam said.
Earlier today, NST quoted Hafarizam as saying that while the Selangor state constitution does not bar women from becoming menteri besar, Wan Azizah may find it difficult to perform her duties because her uzur sharie (menses) would prevent her from accompanying the Sultan on official functions.
Rafizi told Malaysiakinithat if there is a change in the Selangor menteri besar, Wan Azizah is the most likely replacement and the prospect of that happening frightens Umno.
Thus, Rafizi said, Hafarizam’s ‘stupid’ comments were part of Umno’s attempt to use the mainstream media and portray Wan Azizah as being unsuited for the post.
The main architect of PKR’s January ‘Kajang Move’ explained that Umno fears Wan Azizah because it would find it difficult to attack her without backfiring, making it necessary for Umno to change its strategies.
“Umno is so used to running down opposition (leaders). Umno says the worst of things. Umno uses alleged sex videos to confront Pakatan Rakyat.
“All these tactics that Umno would normally deploy would definitely backfire when it comes to Wan Azizah…
“It takes a more subtle kind of politics to confront (her); one that is more subtle, one that is more proper, one that has more courtesy. All these things do not exist in Umno, and especially in Umno Selangor,” Rafizi said.
Unlike Khalid, who he said was more focused on state administration, Wan Azizah would be more willing to engage with Umno’s attacks against her and that she would do so with wit.
“She can be very witty and people like that. That’s my observation of Kak Wan,” Rafizi added.
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