Shahrizat rejoins race to be Wanita Umno head

KUALA LUMPUR – Former Wanita Umno head Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has officially entered the race to regain the post. 

According to media reports, representatives of the former women, family and community development minister were at the Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin’s headquarters in Menara Dato’ Onn earlier today to submit her nomination papers. 

It is believed that the 69-year-old will be going against current Wanita Umno head Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad for the party women’s top position, which the former held between 2008 and 2018 before handing over the mantle to the latter when BN fell from federal power.  

The New Straits Times quoted Sharizat as saying that her vision is to strengthen Wanita Umno, noting that there is “nothing personal” in the competition against Noraini, who is also Parit Sulong MP. 

“Those who support me must know what I stand for and where I hope to bring (the party wing) to. It’s not about maligning the opposition camp,” she said. 

Earlier this month, it was reported that as many as 147 Wanita Umno division heads nationwide were calling for Shahrizat to lead them again, with the party Kota Melaka head Datuk Haryaty Hamdzah saying that the collective decision was made due to Shahrizat’s reputation and legacy. 

However, Haryaty’s statement was later dismissed as being “false” by Wanita Umno executive council member Rosni Zahari who called on the wing’s members to reflect on whether they wished to “move forward or take a step back”. 

Shahrizat, a former Lembah Pantai MP, was previously embroiled in controversy after her husband, National Feedlot Corporation Sdn Bhd (NFC) executive chairman Datuk Mohamad Salleh Ismail, and their three children were named as defendants in a government suit to recover RM253.6 million owed by the company. 

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) subsequently cleared Shahrizat of any involvement in the case. The commission stated that the decision was made after studying investigation papers and reports from the Attorney-General’s Chambers. 

After being postponed several times due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the 15th general elections last year, elections for Umno wings – Wanita, Youth, and Puteri – will be held simultaneously on March 11. 

Polls for the Umno divisions and its supreme council will be held simultaneously on March 18 while party president and deputy president posts will not be contested. – The Vibes, February 17, 2023