Umno's ongoing reluctance to field women candidates questioned

UMNO AGM | Puteri Umno leader Nurul Amal Fauzi today questioned the nationalist party's apparent refusal to nominate representatives from the wing in successive elections, including the general election.

In her keynote address, Nurul Amal described the situation as discriminatory.

“Every year, we raise our voices about the need for 30 percent women’s participation in administration and politics.

“Yet in reality, this does not happen within our own party. What more have we (Puteri Umno) not contributed to the party? When Puteri candidates seek to be fielded, they must meet endless conditions. But when men are selected, losing a deposit is apparently of no concern.

“Puteri members are frequently discriminated against, and all we can do is suppress our frustration. But for how long? Looking back, Umno has historically been a platform for promoting young leaders. If it was possible then, why not now?

“This is the era of young people; opportunities must be equal. Yet if the party remains hesitant to provide space for young women candidates, we are, in fact, straying from Umno’s own progressive traditions," she said, at the wing’s general assembly at the World Trade Centre.

She also reiterated calls for the party leadership to make a final decision on a proposal to raise the membership age limit for the movement to 40, emphasising that the issue concerns the continuity and survival of Puteri Umno in the future.

Raised every year

Nurul Amal stressed that the proposal is neither an emotional reaction nor a hasty measure, but one that has been consistently raised almost every year.

According to her, there has still been no definitive decision from the party’s central leadership, despite the issue involving the potential loss of long-trained talent and human resources within the movement.

“The world has changed. We need to consider how Puteri Umno will survive over the next 25 years. Many potential leaders and successors risk being lost simply because they exceed the current age limit,” she lamented.

She added that raising the age limit would not only ensure leadership continuity but also reduce significant losses to the party by retaining talent as an asset and nurturing the next generation of leaders.

Nurul Amal said that this proposal should not simply be heard, but must be seriously considered and acted upon appropriately, for the party’s future.

“This is not about legacy, it is about the survival of Puteri Umno," she said.

Have structured financing

In her speech, Nurul Amal also addressed internal party issues, including the need for structured financing to ensure the party’s machinery functions effectively.

“Umno cannot rely on idealism alone without organised resources, as this can lead to fatigue among active members and create a gap between leaders and grassroots realities.”

She acknowledged the party’s internal weaknesses, including divisions, internal disputes and ego, describing these as factors contributing to Umno’s rejection and weakening.

“If these conditions persist, Umno will not endure. A party cannot be built on fear or pretence,” she said, urging Umno to acknowledge its weaknesses, correct perceptions, and evolve in step with the times.

In January last year, Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said the proposal to raise the age limit for Puteri had been discussed at the state and division levels across the country for detailed deliberation.

Khaled, who also chairs the party’s Constitution and Membership Bureau, said Umno headquarters would review the views and recommendations submitted by leaders at state and division levels.

However, to date, no final decision has been made on the matter.

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