Rafidah slams opposition over petrol promise - NST

IPOH: April 22, 2008

Umno Wanita chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz took a swipe at Pakatan Rakyat for remaining silent over its promise to reduce the price of petrol.

"There is not even a blip. The prices of things have gone up, how can they not say anything?" she asked, claiming that Pakatan Rakyat did nothing to fight inflation, despite heaping blame on the Barisan Nasional during the general election.

The opposition did not explain to the public that inflation was not up to political parties to tackle and that it was caused by market forces.

Speaking to Umno Wanita members during a visit here yesterday, Rafidah said the BN's role in Pakatan Rakyat-held states was not about screaming one's head off at the government of the day, but to keep it on its toes and ensuring that it fulfil all promises.

She shot down Puteri Umno chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad's idea of establishing a Puteri BN, proposing instead that the various wings set up by BN component parties organise joint activities and work together at the grassroots level.

"There is no need (for Puteri BN). Puteri Umno, Beliawanis MCA and Puteri MIC must work harder to cater to the needs and interests of the young," she said.

There should also be greater outreach among the young, including college students, professionals and newly registered voters, she said.

Rafidah expressed confidence that the BN would win back Perak. There were too many spoilt votes in the last election, some of which outnumbered the slim majority with which Pakatan Rakyat won the seats, she said.

Rafidah said she did not submit questions to parliament for the new session as she could not think of any question that she did not already know the answer.

"I have been in the cabinet for 28 years. I think I don't have to ask questions. I can probably answer every question that they ask and about other ministries as well. Let the new MPs ask the questions," she said.