Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has been urged to vacate her Wanita Umno chief post and not use excuses such as a “split in mums-and-daughters ties” to prevent a challenge from former Puteri chief Azalina Othman.

NONE Former Wanita Umno secretary Faridah Abu Hasan said Shahrizat ( right ) had once contested for the wing’s top post against the then-incumbent Rafidah Aziz.

She noted that Shahrizat went for the post despite swearing in the name of Allah that she would not do so.

"Let us return to that contest between Shahrizat and Rafidah. Shahrizat contested despite stating during an exco meeting that 'Wallahi, my word is my honour. I would not contest for the top post'.

"So why is she now telling Azalina not to contest against her?

"Shahrizat cannot stop anyone from contesting. Furthermore, such contests have never divided Wanita Umno in the past," Faridah said last night.

NFC imbroglio

She also gave two reasons as to why Shahrizat should withdraw: the RM250 million National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal and the dismal performance of Wanita Umno in the 13th general election.

       

NONE Faridah said Shahrizat had always spoken out for women to make up at least 30 percent of the cabinet’s composition, but after the last general election, only one Wanita exco member was picked.

As for the NFC, she said the Wanita Umno chief cannot claim to have no links with the matter.

"Not only her husband but her children benefitted from NFC as well. Her children held high positions in the organisation," she said.

Faridah's 'era is over'

Faridah herself claimed to have received text messages urging the mobilisation of Wanita Umno members to back Shahrizat whenever the NFC court hearing took place.

Since Shahrizat was no longer a minister nor the chairperson of the Women and Family Development Council (MPWK), Faridah said, Shahrizat had nothing left to contribute.

Meanwhile, Wanita exco member and Pahang Wanita Umno chief Rosni Zahari said that Faridah should not be making such comments because her era, and her former boss Rafidah Aziz, was over.

"Why didn't she organise better programs when she was (Wanita Umno) secretary? (If she is capable) why did Rafidah fail to defend her position?" she asked, when contacted by Malaysiakini.

Another Wanita exco member Maznah Abdul Hamid said Shahrizat enjoyed the support of 90 percent of the 191 Wanita division in the country.

"We don't want a leader that was instigated by others, or possibly out of revenge. If the Wanita chief comes from the 10 percent, who will suffer?" she asked.