Despite being defeated in her bid to retain the Wanita Umno chief post last week, veteran politician Rafidah Aziz did not allow the setback to deter her from hitting the campaign trail.

kuala terengganu by election bn launching machinery 050109 rafidah Dubbed as the 'Iron Lady', the former minister was in Bukit Gantang (Perak) where she joined the Wanita Barisan Nasional in their door-to-door campaign.

"Although I am no longer the director (of the Wanita election machiney), I came here to see if the work is being done... God willing, my instructions are being carried out," she was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Rafidah said the management of the Wanita election machinery in Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau will be handled by newly minted Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

New team must learn fast

"My message is that if they continue with the work which has already been planned, no problems will crop up and the campaign will run smoothly.

"Without the Wanita canvassing for votes from door-to door, we cannot reach the voters at the grassroots level," she added.

She said the new Wanita election machinery team must prepare daily reports for the top leaders to provide feedback from the voters, especially the women, on local issues.

Rafidah also expressed hope that the new team learns the ropes quickly and delegate their duties as "there is no time to learn" given that the by-election is just eight days away.

The Bukit Gantang by-election will see a three-cornered fight between ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, BN's Ismail Saffian and independent Kamarul Kamarul Ramizu Idris

The seat fell vacant following the death of PAS incumbent Roslan Shaharum on Feb 9.

bukit gantang parliamentary seat 090209 Students to 'create awareness'

In another development, Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia (SMM) - a coalition students critical of the government - has ordered hundreds of its members to got to Bukit Gantang to 'create awareness' among the people there.

SMM president Muhammad Haafizuddin Abirerah said the movement will also be present on polling day, April 7.

Last Saturday, he said SMM and Islamic Youth movement - Gabungan Anak Muda Islam Semalaysia (Gamis) - despatched 300 graduates to Kuala Sepatang, one of the three state constituencies under the Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat.

They distributed political fliers in the villages which touched on the political crisis in Perak following Barisan Nasional's takeover of the state.