'Slaughter' comment just a joke, Amirudin says after aide's denial

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari today admitted to having spoken with his predecessor Mohamed Azmin Ali about his concerns on being fielded against him in the latter's constituency of Gombak, a day after his aide denied that such a conversation had taken place. 
 
Speaking at a press conference in Klang, however, Amirudin sought to pass off the remark as a joke. 

He said he had called Azmin about work matters and made "small talk" with the international trade and industry minister before getting to the point.

"(By no means did) I reveal party secrets. It was only a joke, nothing personal about it. His life must be boring for him to say this in public," he was quoted as saying by The Star. 

He also claimed that Azmin was "running out of political subject matter" in making the allegation.

Earlier this week, Azmin, a three-term Gombak MP, said Amirudin had called him last month to inform him of what he thought was the real agenda behind the move to field him in Gombak at the general election in November.

This followed indications by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim that Amirudin would be sent to contest against Azmin despite previously hinting that he would do so himself. 

"He said, 'I have been asked to stand in Gombak. I know, this is to slaughter me in Gombak'," Azmin told a Perikatan Nasional event hosted by PAS in Taman Melewar, Gombak, referring to the conversation with Amirudin. 

Amirudin subsequently remained mum on the topic although his aide, Jay Jay Denis, dismissed Azmin's claim as "another in his series of lies since February 2020".

"Azmin should begin to repent because the people are judging and will reject dishonourable leaders who are unable to speak the truth," he told MalaysiaNow in a brief statement.

Azmin was among a dozen PKR MPs who were sacked from the party after their fallout with Anwar, in the wake of the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in early 2020. He went on join Bersatu, and will be defending Gombak on a PN ticket.

Amirudin meanwhile was widely seen as Azmin's protege during the latter's time as the PKR deputy president.