KUALA LUMPUR: The ‘dirt’ that Rafizi Ramli has promised to dish out on Kajang independent contestant Zaid Ibrahim tomorrow has left the former Cabinet minister more curious than afraid of what “skeletons” Rafizi would reveal.
“I’m not worried. I have little worries, not like his boss, Anwar Ibrahim. We wait for his expose. I can’t imagine what he’s going to talk about,” Zaid told FMT today.
Yesterday, the Pandan MP and PKR strategy director said he was tired of Zaid’s attacks on Anwar’s credibility, and would in turn reveal details that would force Zaid to salvage his own reputation.
Zaid today said he would not dare to guess what the “dirt” would be, but added, with a chuckle: “maybe he does have something solid, perhaps a video or even underwear?”
The Kita party founder was apparently referring to the videos circulating on pro-BN blogs depicting a man, said to be Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, engaging in sexual acts.
Similarly, PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali had been accused of being caught in a compromising video. The white briefs seen in the video became a hot topic of discussion among netizens.
Both leaders have denied that they were in the videos.
Zaid today assured that regardless what Rafizi revealed Wednesday, he would not stoop to digging up dirt on either Anwar nor Rafizi in retaliation.
“I don’t have any dirt on other people that is not already public knowledge. What I will focus is on issues of Kajang, Selangor, national and political issues.”
But Zaid was clearly unimpressed with Rafizi’s threat, saying: “This is a party that talks about reforms, good governance, but when threatened, this is how they react.”
He also dismissed Rafizi’s reason for Anwar’s refusal to debate with him as just “an excuse”.
‘Its an excuse, not a reason’
Last week, Zaid had issued a challenge for a debate with Anwar to prove which candidate for the March 23 by-election was more credible, as well as to reveal the “real” reasons behind Anwar’s decision to contest and how it related to Khalid Ibrahim, the Selangor Menteri Besar.
But Rafizi yesterday told FMT that it was not necessary for Anwar to take up the challenge as it would sidetrack the public from the “real battle” of Kajang — the contest between Anwar and BN’s candidate, Chew Mei Fun.
“That’s not a reason, it’s an excuse, let the people judge for themselves,” said Zaid.
Kajang is one of the three state constituencies within the Hulu Langat parliamentary constituency. It has 39,728 registered voters, 48% of them Malay. 41% Chinese and 10% Indian.
BN has announced that its candidate would be MCA vice-president Chew Mei Fun. A new entrant, the New Gen Party has also announced its intention of joining the fray, as has former dangdut singer Herman Tino.
The by-election will not have a bearing on who runs Selangor as Pakatan Rakyat has 44 seats in the 56-seat state assembly. The remaining seats are held by BN.
This is the third by-election since the 13th general election last May. The first was held in Kuala Besut, Terengganu, in July and the second in Sungai Limau, Kedah, in November. Both are state seats.
