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By Sajahan Abdul Waheed, New Straits Times WANITA Umno members will surely not forget the movement's 1996 elections, which witnessed its most fiercely contested battle and resulted in an upset when executive council member Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman defeated incumbent Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz by a mere 27 votes.
However, Rafidah, who had headed Wanita Umno from 1984, turned the tables in the 2000 party election by beating Siti Zaharah with 12 votes.
The subsequent election in 2004 was tame as Rafidah won uncontested. But this time around, a contest for the top post seems inevitable.
Rafidah, who will turn 65 in November, has made it clear that she wants to defend her post.
But she has also drawn a succession plan -- to step down in favour of her deputy, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil, in the middle of next year, three months after the election in March. Shahrizat had initially accepted the plan and described it as good for the movement and Umno.
On the ground, however, a different story is unfolding. Many Wanita members do not favour the plan and are questioning its relevance and Rafidah's motives.
Among them is former Wanita chief, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, who has called on Rafidah to either hand over the leadership in March or hold on till the next party election in 2011.
It is not smooth sailing for Shahrizat either. She is under pressure from her supporters to go against Rafidah as they feel there is not much Rafidah can do in the few months before handing over to Shahrizat.
The view is that if Rafidah is re-elected as Wanita chief, she would name her people as the state Wanita heads, and to appointed posts in the movement. Shahrizat would then not have a free hand in running the organisation.
A former state Wanita Umno head said: "Shahrizat does not have much of a choice. She might agree to Rafidah's succession plan to avoid problems arising if there is a contest for the top post. But how does she pacify her supporters who just can't wait any longer?
"As it is, many are slightly upset with Shahrizat.
"What would be her reaction if the divisions nominate her to contest for Wanita Umno chief?"
A minimum of 38 nominations or 20 per cent from the total of 191 divisions will be required to contest the post. This should not be difficult for Shahrizat to obtain.
Taking that into account, Rafidah is said to have told her supporters that she would not defend her post if Shahrizat decides to challenge her.
But, as observers say, Rafidah's decision will not necessarily mean that Shahrizat will proceed to win the post uncontested. This is why the Wanita election could be one to watch.
Some Wanita division chiefs who consider Shahrizat as a leader unwilling to take the risks might decide to spring a surprise by nominating an outsider for the top post -- former Puteri Umno head Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
As much as Wanita Umno supports Rafidah or Shahrizat, it cannot be denied that the women are still sore about their leaders not sitting in the cabinet. The Wanita chief has been a minister since Tun Fatimah Hashim in 1969.
Said a senior Wanita Umno division head: "I admit at one time we were not in favour of Azalina. As the Malay proverb goes, tak kenal maka tak cinta (not known and therefore not loved).
Over the years, we have got to know her better and there is nothing wrong in giving her an opportunity to prove herself.
"We cannot continue to shut our doors to her. She is the only woman minister from Umno and that surely matters a lot. Do not forget that at one time we had three Wanita Umno leaders in the cabinet. But today, there are none.
"Azalina has constantly said she is more interested in defending her supreme council seat than venturing into Wanita Umno. But is she going to simply ignore the wishes of the grassroots?"
Another name being thrown into the list of potential challengers is Johor Wanita head Datuk Halimah Sadique. However, a drawback for Halimah is that she is only a member of parliament.
Had Halimah been a minister or deputy, her chances of being nominated would have been brighter. But she herself had denied any intention of contesting for one of the top two posts.
Whoever the possible challengers are, Wanita Umno is set for an interesting battle in the election, now put off to March. A clearer picture will emerge when the 191 divisions make their nominations during their meetings, which are scheduled for a month from Oct 9.
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