TOKYO - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has hit out at those who indulge in "gutter politics" in their campaigning for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

The Prime Minister said he has noticed that there were those who were "spinning" his recent visit to the United States and meeting with President Barack Obama as Malaysia "kneeling down" to the superpower.

"I heard that people are spinning our relationship with the United States. If we have a good relationship, it doesn't mean we are bowing or kneeling down.

"We have no plans to do so and we never will. This is total rubbish and the lies are to confuse the people.

"I will turun padang tomorrow at Hulu Selangor and sort out matters. This is fitnah (slander) and not at all ethical," Najib, who is also Umno president, said at a dinner with some 300 Malaysian students who are studying in Japan. The event was hosted by Yayasan Pelajaran Malaysia.

"If we want to play politics by all means play politics but don't indulge in gutter politics. Such stories will not benefit the country," he added.

Later, at a press conference with the Malaysian media covering his first official trip to Japan as Prime Minister, Najib said the Opposition would twist the facts.

In Kuala Lumpur, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein called on the Pakatan Rakyat supporters to stop dragging his family into their political game.

Hishammuddin said he was aware that doctored pictures of him drinking alcohol which first surfaced eight years ago were again being circulated on the Internet.

Meanwhile, after three days of campaigning, Barisan Nasional candidate P. Kamalanathan and his opponent from PKR Datuk Zaid Ibrahim finally crossed paths.

Both of them stopped for lunch at the same restaurant in Taman Teratai near Bukit Beruntung.