Outspoken Cheras Umno division chief Syed Ali Syed Abas Alhabshee said Shahrizat Abdul Jalil should not wait for her term as a senator to expire before stepping down as a cabinet minister.

This was important in order NONE to prove that Shahrizat was indeed indeed repentant, said Syed Ali ( right ) when contacted for his reaction to Shahrizat's announcement that she would vacate her post as the Minister for Women, Family and Community Development when her senatorship ended.

Syed Ali accused Shahrizat of trying to give the impression that she was not guilty of any wrongdoing, but was merely not seeking reappointment after her term ended.

"Maybe she wants to be in the spotlight. Then tomorrow, Wanita leaders will come crying and begging for her to stay.

"I'm glad that she wants to quit, but I'm disappointed that that she wants it to happen when her term ends. I don't understand why.

"This shows she is not committed to the party and does not have integrity. If it was me, I'd quit immediately," said Syed Ali.

Bollywood drama

Syed Ali is among the rare Umno leaders to have openly called on Shahrizat to step down after the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal broke.

Shahrizat's family runs the NFC which was heavily criticised in the Auditor-General's Report 2010.

Back in 2007, when Shahrizat was a serving cabinet minister, NFC was awarded a government contract to run a cattle-rearing project and was given a RM250 million soft loan.

Since the report was published, PKR has revealed several documents to back its claim that the soft loan was abused for several dubious investments, which include prime land in Putrajaya and several plush condominium units in Bangsar, Singapore and Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Syed Ali also accused Shahrizat of creating a "drama" by making the announcement today.

"If she wants to step down, just do it... Why do you have to approach reporters today when you can do it in Parliament tomorrow?

"This is like a Bollywood film. She is like a 'Bollywood auntie'," he said.

Meanwhile, another prominent critic of Shahrizat told Malaysiakini that she should have stepped down a lot sooner.

Nevertheless, Deputy BN Backbenchers Club leader Bung Mokhtar Radin said her move was appropriate.

"I welcome the decision. I believe that after this, the opposition will not be able to play up this issue.

"It also proves that BN is consistent and open when it comes to problems involving the public and the government.