Three additional seats for women in the Umno supreme council will not make a dent in the party's male-dominated 25-seat elected body, its women's wing chief Rafidah Aziz said today.

Bernama quoted her as saying that the three proposed woman candidates, after all, had outstanding leadership qualities and were definitely good enough to represent the women's voice in the party.

"They are all people who can contribute to the party...that is why I am requesting, I have barred them from campaigning, and so I am requesting the delegates to consider women."

"Vote for them...there are many seats (and) taking away three from the men is not going to make a dent," she told reporters after leading a group of Wanita Umno exco members on a visit to the New Straits Times Press (NSTP) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Rafidah, who is the International Trade and Industry Minister, said this when asked on the chances of the three candidates in the party polls next month.

Contesting are Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Youth and Sports Minister Azalina Othman Said and Wanita exco member Dr Norraesah Mohamad.

Play by the rule

There are 61 male candidates eligible to contest for seats in the supreme council. Five of them had since withdrawn.

Rafidah reminded all Wanita members to play by the rule and not campaign or be involved in money politics just to help their candidates to win.

"You don't buy votes, you don't buy loyalty," she said, adding that having a post in the government did not mean that the person also had good leadership.

Yesterday, Rafidah had asked that women representatives in the party's supreme council be increased after the general assembly next month.

She was quoted by Bernama as saying that increasing the number of women in the highest decision-making body did not mean the council was incapable of deciding on women's issues but that "it will not be the same if there are more".