Kamilia, sacked from Umno, campaigns with little fanfare
PERAK As the election campaign entered its fifth day today, former Wanita Umno deputy chief Kamilia Ibrahim, who cause an uproar by entering the fray for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat as an independent candidate, was spotted campaigning with little fanfare.
PERAK As the election campaign entered its fifth day today, former Wanita Umno deputy chief Kamilia Ibrahim - who cause an uproar by entering the fray for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat as an independent candidate - was spotted campaigning with little fanfare.
The Kuala Kangsar division of Wanita Umno appears to have recovered from the shock of Kamilia's action, with its members now working hard to ensure the victory of the BN candidate, Wan Mohamad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad.
Kamilia has been silent since the last posting on her Facebook page on Sunday, where she denied that BN chief Najib Abdul Razak had offered her a seat to contest.
Kamilia, who was on Monday
sacked from Umno
, could not be contacted over the past few days to get feedback on her campaign on the ground.
Kuala Kangsar Umno Wanita secretary Aishah Halid ( left ) said she saw Kamilia campaigning with her two children.
However, posters or banners of Kamilia's election symbol, a book, were nowhere to be seen, compared with the splash of Wan Khairil BN posters and those of PAS candidate Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah.
"She was seen distributing her campaign material to the people, including in PAS operations centres.
"Kamilia had told us she would not trouble Umno, that her targets were the fence sitters and the young people of the constituency.
"We feel sorry when we see her, as she would campaign with her children," Aishah said.
Kamilia's action brings tears to ex-colleagues
Meanwhile, when met in Kuala Kangsar yesterday, several Wanita Umno members expressed disbelief over Kamilia's actions.
Talang Hilir branch Wanita Umno member Nor Suraidah Murad, 43, came to tears as she spoke, saying she did not expect Kamilia to contest as an independent.
Nur Suraidah described Kamilia's actions as selfish and disappointing to the grassroots.
"I feel this is selfish and done inconsiderately, without taking into consideration the party's interest. However, we have come to terms with her decision and will continue with our own activities.
"We will go house-to-house to explain the actual situation," she told Malaysiakini .
Bukit Chandan Wanita Umno member Wan Bidah Wan Yusoff, 50, said Kamilia's decision resulted in the movement's members to "mourn", up till yesterday.
Wan Bidah said many Wanita Umno leaders cried and were saddened by Kamilia's action.
"Many cried. During the meeting with the party election machinery, many cried. But we are all right now. It was only for three days that we cried... now, the party machinery is back to normal," she said.
Wan Bidah described Kamilia's action as a shock to the members.
"However, after meeting with Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, we are all right and we will now continue to do our work on the ground," she added.
Shahrizat, at the meeting with the Kuala Kangsar Umno Wanita members yesterday, worked to pacify them and said Kamilia should have been patient and remained loyal to Umno.
"I am extremely sad and did not anticipate Kamilia would do this. Being a former senator, lawyer, and member of the party's legal bureau, she should know the repercussions," Shahrizat told the members.
Kuala Kangsar has 33,607 voters, of whom 68 percent are Malays, 24 percent Chinese and seven percent Indians.
In the 2008 general election, long-time international trade and industry minister Rafidah Aziz defeated Dr Khairudin Abdul Malik of PAS by 1,458 votes.
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