We have seen what the prime minister had said about embattled Wanita Umno leader Sharizat Jalil, that she is innocent until proven guilty and she could and should remain as the leader of the women's wing of Umno for as long as she has the support of the grassroots.

The burning question is; are Malay women of today who dominate the entire machinery of the civil service from the position of secretary-generals right down to the clerks and peons and in most of the government linked companies that dumb and easily taken for granted?

They are the ones who are the force behind the teaching profession, will their blind support for Sharizat mean that they condone corruption and would take part actively in it if given the opportunity to make as much hay while the sun shines?

Many of these women today are university graduates at bachelor's, master's and Phd levels but when it comes to politics their stand seems to be taken for granted.

The National Feedlot Corporation scandal not only makes a mockery out of the so called transformation initiatives that the PM is trying to make to convince the people but it is outright and clear cut corruption and nepotism at its best.

The husband and children of the minister could not have gotten such a soft loan from the federal treasury in the guise of being the chosen leaders to spearhead the beef industry in the country if not for the involvement of the minister herself and the rest of the cabinet.

Most educated Malay women worth their salt would know that.

The reason why most blindly support Wanita Umno is because most of the grassroots don't fall within the taxable bracket when it comes to income tax.

Many in the rural areas and small towns are either into some small cottage industry businesses or living on some form of handouts from time to time at the benevolence of the local Wanita Umno leaders which could come in the form of permits and licenses from which they would just have to sit and relax and allow the privilege of being a Malay work for them.

Naturally in these instances, these women would earn a handsome income from renting out the permits and licenses to Non-Malays to do business in their names and in the process enhancing the rentier culture which Umno has ingrained into its followers.

For these women to see their head honcho go because she is said to be involved in corruption would be a sure no no.

For many of these women they would feel that, that is the way Malay politics works and they would feel enraged if their chief is unceremoniously dethroned. One can't blame these ladies because many of them have been brought up to think in that manner.

Some of the highly educated ones too hold on to this line of thought because it is the best way to amass the riches in the shortest span of time.

Though they may be burdened with the rearing of children, their schooling and upbringing, they will not be able to see and understand the corruption that goes on in high places because in their minds, it is all part of the game and the big picture which Umno sells to them in the guise that it is for the betterment of the Malays and so that the Non-Malays will be kept at bay no matter what happens.

For the highly educated ones, who now form the bulk of the university graduates and the academia, acceptance of corruption may be seen as a sign of weakness, inferiority complex, lack of self confidence and esteem because as an educated society of today, the Malays must strive to be the best on equal footing with the rest or else the stigma stays on forever. These ladies will vote with a conscience.

There is also the working class urban dwellers many of whom are made up of working class women who are the back bone of the many industries that makes Malaysia tick.

This group of women would have been exposed to the alternative media and to the many ceramahs that take place right in front of the own backyards therefore for them, corruption will be felt as they would have to meet with the daily grind in the system to get things moving be it work related, domestic, educational and social.

At every turn there will be somebody asking for that extra more than what they are supposedly to receive to get the job done. This group won't be in favour of a cheating leader who gets away with a scandal and whilst dwelling in it, amasses large amounts of wealth.

It is about time that Malay women really stood up to be counted, there are many good and capable ones in the likes of Nurul Izzah and her generation who want to be known for their prowess in their ability, intellect and leadership.

This group is going to be forming the bulk of the candidates from Pakatan Rakyat whom are going to be taking on the Umno tigresses whom are known to be fierce guards of their territories and fiefdoms.

This young group will be the future of the Malay women leadership whom may very soon in the future produce a candidate that befits the position of the first woman Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Therefore if Malay women are to be taken seriously as future leaders of this nation, they must show that they are not some pushovers, they must stand their ground for good governance and will not and must not tolerate corruption at any level of governance.

If they can't or won't want to do that because of certain myths prepounded by Umno, then they will always be taken for granted, no matter how high a pedestal they may seek to stand on.