Success stories of the membership drive by Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno have not deterred the PAS women wing from recruiting members, its chief Fathimah Zainab Ibrahim said today.

Despite shortcomings such as limited access to the media and small budgets, the wing known as Muslimat has been able to recruit new members through various community educational and informative programmes.

"We organise small community and religious programmes, seminars and talks. All our activities must have religious, educational and informative values," she said when contacted.

"Sometimes we organise small discussion groups and invite students to talk about general issues."

Fathimah said through these activities, the wing has been able to reach women of all backgrounds on a more personal level.

"They can get to know us personally and professionally and in time, and eventually join us at their own will," she said.

'Neither bitter nor jealous'

She said the recruitment programmes were not seasonal but an ongoing process and do not target any particular age group because the wing wants to represent women of all ages and background.

"This is the way we work. Even if we are successful, it will not be known to the masses. As an opposition party, we do not enjoy the luxury like Wanita and Puteri Umno do, in (being able to) make big announcements on the success of their membership drives," she said.

While admitting that the Muslimat has failed to respond to certain issues which have made headlines recently such as divorce via SMS, Fathimah said this did not mean that the wing does not care about such issues.

"Sometimes when we do make a statement it doesn't get published or worse, it is manipulated. But we care about those issue which are frequently included in our programmes. We don't wait for the media to highlight the issues first to discuss it, but address them whenever we can," she said.

She also felt that this was a more effective method as press statements only serve to tell the public about their stand while the Muslimat helps Muslim women understand their rights and privileges.

"Of course, these efforts are not made known in the media unlike Umno programmes which get huge media coverage. But we are not bitter nor jealous. We have no time for that as we need to go on with the struggle," she stressed.

'Unfair competition'

Meanwhile, Muslimat PAS committee member Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud acknowledged Wanita Umno's and Puteri Umno's success but termed this as "unfair competition".

"We are not fighting on the same level. Puteri Umno's purse is full, they get to organise events whenever and wherever they like with full support of the government and private companies. They give out sponsored freebies and provide entertainment," she said.

"But our financial sources are limited and we don't get media coverage. Of course we are not in favour of attracting youth through entertainment...but attempts to organise an event to reach the masses often come up against a brick wall."

Siti Mariah said that even the simple act of distributing pamphlets to the public in a shopping complex becomes difficult due to fear among some of being associated with opposition parties.

"I myself was chased out by the management of a shopping complex in Selangor while distributing pamphlets simply because I am with the opposition. But a few days later, Puteri Umno held an event at the same place. This is the hardship that we must face," she claimed.

She also claimed that Puteri Umno was free to approach students in universities and colleges without resistance, but said students who showed an interest in PAS would be issued warnings and threatened with expulsion.

"If we are given equal treatment and opportunities, I believe it will not be hard for us to challenge them (Umno). I believe that our party policy which advocates transparency and fairness are more appealing than Umno which practices racial politics," she said.

Committed members

However, she added that these obstacles have also proved to be a blessing in disguise as those who join the Muslim-based party despite the negative propaganda are committed and dedicated to the struggle.

"Those who join us are not simple-minded youth. They understand the cause of the struggle and are willing to sacrifice their time, money and energy for the party," she said.

Siti Mariah alleged that many of those who joined Putri Umno were ignorant of politics and lured by "meaningless entertainment and glamour".

"I don't think they know anything about politics. They have been induced by unhealthy elements to join Umno. I don't think PAS will ever resort to such methods even if we can," she added.

Since its inception in 2001, Puteri Umno has launched a series of nationwide campaigns to increase its membership, which is open to Malay women between the ages of 18 and 35 and up to 40 years for the post of the movement's head.

In June, its head Azalina Othman Said claimed that the wing had 121,000 members.