KOTA TINGGI, MALAYSIA: Rumour-mongering bloggers are cowards and a nuisance to Umno, said Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.

Azalina, who is Youth and Sports Minister, said the opposition parties were using the blogs because they know that the Home Affairs Ministry was busy monitoring reports in the mainstream media.

"They think they can get away with it but it is not the case as they too are being monitored," she said after launching the National Sports Institute satellite centre here.

Asked on the personal attacks against her, Azalina said it was part and parcel of politics.

"The most important thing is that the leadership knows your capability and wants to retain you.

"I get more pahala (blessings) everyday with all the lies spread about me, especially by bloggers," she said.

On talk of infighting in Pengerang Umno especially between her and division chief Datuk Harun Abdullah, Azalina said people could say a lot of things but there was no problem.

"I still see him and I still shake his hand," she said.

Azalina said she would contest in a seat to be decided by the Barisan Nasional leadership.

"I am a soldier and if the boss asks me to go to war, then I will," she said.

On the satellite centres, she said seven would be constructed nationwide this year. Each centre costs about RM2mil.