Two Wanita Umno leaders have rebutted their chief Rafidah Aziz's assertion that there was no objections within the wing regarding the June 2009 transition plan proposed by the latter.

According to Petaling Jaya Utara division Wanita chief Raja Ropiaah Abdullah and Pahang's Maran division Wanita chief Rosni Zahari, the wing’s number two Shahrizat Abdul Jalil had openly urged Rafidah to bring forward the transition plan to next March during an exco meeting on Nov 10.

wanita umno pak lah meet rafidah shahrizat event 040808 05 Last week, Shahrizat had announced that she would be vying for the top post during the party polls next March. The next day, Rafidah lashed out at her deputy and accused her of reneging on her word to adhere to the transition plan.

"In that (Nov 10) meeting, Rafidah asked Shahrizat why she issued a media statement a day before the meeting asking for the transition plan to be brought forward to March," recalled Raja Roopiah.

"Shahrizat said it was the wish of the grassroots and it was proven in the number of nominations she had garnered to go for the top post.

"However, Rafidah disagreed and hence we were forced to accept it. This could have something to do with Shahrizat’s soft-spoken manner," she told Malaysiakini yesterday.

The division leader also claimed that Rafidah never discussed the transition plan beforehand in the exco meeting but announced it during a gathering on Aug 4, which was attended by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Shahrizat's announcement ended speculations as to whether or not Shahrizat would accept the 73 nominations for her to contest against Rafidah, who received 117 nominations at the division level.

Had the transition plan proceeded as scheduled, Shahrizat would effectively serve almost an entire term of three years as acting wing head.

On the same note, her decision to go for the top post had given Kamilia Ibrahim, the sole eligible candidate for the number two post, an uncontested victory.

Declined further negotiations

rafidah aziz pc on permatang pauh by election 010808 06 Meanwhile, Rosni said Rafidah had said during the Nov 10 meeting that she would not budge from the initial transition plan and asked Shahrizat to accept it.

The Maran division chief also claimed that Rafidah disagreed to a suggestion from Shahrizat to negotiate the matter further with Kamilia.

"Many excos felt it was unfair to pressure Shahrizat into accepting the plan. After a vote by raising hands, close to 10 excos disagreed with the transition plan taking effect in June 2009," she said, adding that two Wanita Umno state chiefs had also raised their hands in objections.

There are a total of 25 excos in Wanita Umno, including 14 state chiefs.

In another related development, a Shahrizat supporter said the ex-cabinet minister started lobbying the divisions to nominate her for the top post after she came to know that a challenge could be mounted for the number two post.

However, the supporter, who declined to be named, said the challenger was not Kamilia.

Another Wanita Umno leader who was nominated for the number two post was Tourism Minister Azalina Othman Said. However, she failed to secure enough nominations to contest the post.