The decision for Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to remain as Wanita Umno chief as announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak is apt and should not be questioned, said Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam.

The Umno supreme council member said the decision was made based on the agreement of about 1.3 Wanita Umno members throughout the country.

"The people (Wanita Umno members) had chosen Shahrizat as Wanita Umno head and she is not guilty of anything. If there is anything wrong, it is related to her husband and their children. It has nothing to do with her leadership in Wanita Umno."

Mohd Ali said this to reporters after officiating at the One-Stop Health Centre Programme: Self-Examination and opening of the Pantai Peringgit Community Pedestrian Track in Malacca today.

Therefore, he said, there was no reason for Shahrizat to resign from her Wanita Umno post as she had committed no offence.

"We believe the decision will not adversely affect support among pro-BN voters in the coming 13th general election," he added.

Wise decision, says Sabah CM

In Kota Kinabalu, Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal said the decision on Shahrizat's party position would not provide the opposition with an avenue to exploit unity in Umno.

He said is was the right move in preparing for the coming general election.

"This is also a good sign for our election machinery at the grassroots level as our Wanita members are the pulse in our efforts to achieve victory for BN," he added after handing over special payments to former staff of the Community Development Department, Sabah branch.

Sabah Chief Minister and state Umno chairman Musa Aman said the decision was wise to ensure continued unity in Wanita Umno in carrying out the tasks entrusted to them.

The issue involving Shahrizat's position arose when her husband, Mohamad Salleh Ismail who is the chairman of National Feedlot Corporation, was charged with criminal breach of trust involving a RM250 million government allocation for the company's beef-production project.

- Bernama