Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top Wanita post - Malaysiakini

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Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top post
Nov 20, 08 4:37pm

Wanita Umno deputy chief Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today announced that she will contest for the wing's top post next year.

Sharizat, who was appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister after the March 8 elections, made the announcement via a two-paragraph statement this afternoon.

"Wanita Umno must be united in strengthening the party as well as be bold in bringing about changes and renewal," she said.

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

Previously, Rafidah had stated that she would defend her post and hand over the reins to Shahrizat in June.

Strong backing for Shahrizat

However, Wanita exco member Kamilia Ibrahim threw a spanner into the works by announcing that she would contest for the number two post.

She had received 55 nominations, which is more than the minimum number required to be a candidate for the contest.

Kamilia's announcement led to speculations that Shahrizat had been left with no hoice but to go against Rafidah for the number one slot.

Kamilia, on the other hand, is expected to win the deputy chief post uncontested.

Some of the divisions which had nominated Rafidah were also said to have switched their allegiance to Shahrizat.

The Bahasa Malaysia version below:

Shahrizat sah cabar Rafidah
Muda Mohd Noor Nov 20, 08 3:24pm

Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hari ini mengumumkan akan bertanding jawatan ketua Wanita Umno.

Beliau mengumumkan demikian dalam satu kenyataan rasmi yang dikeluarkan petang ini.

Menurutnya, beliau menerima pencalonan dan sokongan untuk bertanding jawatan ketua Wanita Mac depan.

Shahrizat merupakan naib ketua Wanita dan penasihat hal ehwal pembangunan wanita dan sosial kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Beliau akan berdepan dengan Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, tokoh ketua Wanita yang paling berkhidmat selama 21 tahun, sekiranya ahli parlimen Kuala Kangsar itu tetap mahu mempertahankan jawatan tersebut.

Pengumuman Shahrizat itu menjawab teka-teki selama ini sama ada beliau akan menerima pencalonan untuk bertanding jawatan tersebut.

Ini berikutan desakan supaya Rafidah supaya mempercepatkan peralihan kuasa dari Jun kepada Mac depan.

Bagaimanapun, mesyuarat exco Wanita baru-baru ini memutuskan supaya pelan peralihan kuasa kekal pada Jun tahun depan dan tiada pertandingan bagi jawatan ketua dan naib ketua.

Bagaimanapun seorang lagi calon yang layak bertanding jawatan naib ketua, Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim bertegas akan tetap bertanding jawatan tersebut.

Kamilia mendapat 55 pencalonan dan layak bertanding jawatan naib ketua.

Ekoran itu, timbul desas-desus yang mengatakan Shahrizat tiada pilihan kecuali bertanding menentang Rafidah bagi jawatan ketua Wanita.

Dalam kenyataan dua perenggan itu, Shahrizat menegaskan bahawa Wanita Umno mesti bersatu dalam mengukuhkan parti serta berani membawa perubahan dan pembaharuan.

Dengan itu, Kamilia dijangka menang tanpa bertanding bagi jawatan naib ketua.

Selepas 191 bahagian selesai mesyuarat awal bulan ini, Shahrizat memperolehi cukup pencalonan untuk bertanding jawatan ketua.

Penyandang jawatan tersebut Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz memperolehi 117 pencalonan, manakala Shahrizat mendapat 73 pencalonan.

Malah, sebahagian bahagian yang mencalonkan Rafidah pun kini beralih sokongan kepada Shahrizat.

Menurut exco pergerakan itu, Raja Ropiah Raja Abdullah, lebih 100 bahagian menyokong Shahrizat bertanding jawatan ketua Wanita Umno Mac ini.

Katanya, sekurang-kurangnya lima negeri memberi sokongan penuh kepada Shahrizat untuk mencabar penyandang Rafidah.