Wanita Umno is asking the BN top leadership to consider a woman candidate for the Tenang state by-election in Johor set for Jan 30.

Its head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said today that she had proposed Labis Wanita Umno leader Haslinda Salleh as candidate.

"We have submitted the name of Haslinda as candidate, but we leave it to Najib Abdul Razak (the prime minister and BN chairperson) to decide," she told reporters at Kampung Sawah Baru, Labis.

Shahrizat, who is minister of women, family and community development, said that women leaders should not be marginalised in the selection of candidates because they, like their male counterparts, have a fine record of service.

The by-election follows the death of BN assemblyperson Sulaiman Taha of diabetes-related blood infection. Nomination day is Jan 22.

Shahrizat said that BN leaders should remember that women voters make up almost half the voters when deciding on the candidate for the by-election.

PAS, which has confirmed that it will contest the by-election, is reported to be seriously considering fielding a woman candidate.

Shahrizat also said the programme being carried out by her ministry to wipe out hard core poverty has increased the income of 44,643 households in the country.

They represent 99.75 per cent of hard core poor families, she added.

- Bernama