Standing ovation for Jamal at Wanita Umno meet

UMNO AGM Sungai Besar Umno division head Jamal Md Yunos was greeted with thunderous applause when he made an appearance at the Wanita Umno annual assembly today.

Jamal, who strung a large cut-out depicting PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli from his neck, was invited on stage to acknowledge his supporters.

The cut-out was accompanied with a text which claimed that Rafizi had defamed Wanita Umno head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Several Wanita Umno delegates could be heard thanking Jamal for standing up for their leader.

Umno supreme council member Ismail Sabri was seen giving Jamal a standing ovation when he entered the hall.

Earlier, Jamal worked the floor at Putra World Trade Centre, shaking hands and posing for photographs.

Jamal told reporters that he wanted to highlight the fact that Rafizi's allegations against the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) had hurt Shahrizat's career.

"We must remind ourselves of Rafizi and his actions. My message is that because of Rafizi, the Wanita Umno head had to step down as a minister.

"Umno members must remember this. Although Rafizi has been given a jail sentence, his effect on Umno will not be forgotten," he said.

'Jamal got the details wrong'

Apart from Shahrizat, said Jamal, many others in Umno had fallen victim to Rafizi's slander.

"He accused the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor of buying a ring for RM24 million.

"But when Rosmah tried to sue, he said he was merely joking. Therefore, I feel compelled to remind Umno members that Rafizi is a kaki fitnah (person who likes to slander)," he said.

In an immediate reaction, Rafizi said the message on Jamal's cut-out was factually wrong because Shahrizat had withdrew her defamation suit in 2012.

Rafizi said that he did not apologise to Shahrizat.

On Jamal's attempt to link Rafizi's 18-month jail sentence with Shahrizat, the PKR politician said: "He is definitely an idiot."

Rafizi was given a 18-month jail sentence for breaching the Official Secrets Act 1972, which had nothing to do with Shahrizat.

He lost a defamation suit brought by NFC last month and was ordered to pay RM200,000 in damages. NFC is headed by Shahrizat's husband.- Mkini