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Shahrizat to contest Wanita Umno chief post |
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Posted by admin
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Thursday, 20 November 2008 21:31 |
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by Karen Arukesamy, The Sun Deputy Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has decided to accept nominations to contest the women wing's number one position, breaking an earlier pact with her "boss" Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for a power handover in June.
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul
Jalil |
The 55-year-old lawyer announced her eagerly-awaited decision in a two-paragraph statement issued today, that indicated that she had decided to ride on the growing nominations for her to take over the post. At last count, she had 73 nominations, compared to 117 for Rafidah, 65.
"Wanita Umno must be united to strengthen the party and be courageous to bring changes and reformation," she said in the statement.
When contacted, her aide said she will be away for the next few days for a meeting and is not available to give further comments.
With her decision, Shahrizat -- who was earlier criticised for being a penakut (coward) -- is set for a bruising battle with Rafidah at the March party polls, one that would be a repeat of the 1996 polls when Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman beat the seemingly-invincible "Iron Lady", and was chief for only one term.
Rafidah has been Wanita chief since 1984. However, her transition plan has increasingly been questioned and criticised by sections of the grassroots who felt that it was unnecessary for her to be uncontested, only to hold the post for three months before handing it to Shahrizat, who will thereafter be acting chief.
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Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz
| On Nov 10, the wing's executive council met, a day after Shahrizat issued a statement calling for the leadership transition to be brought forward to March, in keeping with the wishes of the grassroots. Rafidah later said the council decided the original plan remained.
However Wanita Umno executive council member Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim -- known to be Shahrizat's running mate -- criticised the transition plan and later announced that she was going for the number two position.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had reportedly said he will meet Rafidah and Shahrizat on the leadership tussle issue on his return from his overseas trip on Friday. He had said he did want the problem to affect the women wing's stability. Shahrizat's political career:
> Member of Parliament for Lembah Pantai for three terms (1995 – March 8, 2008) before she was beaten by Nurul Izzah Anwar
> Woman and Family Minister (now called Women, Family and Community Development) (2001-March 8, 2008)
> Now Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Women and Social Development Affairs (since March 18, 2008)
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