Rafidah asked to step down by March by Sharizat

KUALA LUMPUR: Fast forward the Wanita Umno leadership transition from June to March. That was the call from its deputy head Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to her boss Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz yesterday.

In a statement, Shahrizat said she would bring up the matter with Rafidah at the wing's executive council meeting at the party headquarters in the Putra World Trade Centre at 10.30am today.

Shahrizat said the statement was in response to the many members who had asked her to declare her stand on the transition plan.

"I respect the plan. However, taking into account the current developments, I want to discuss the matter with Rafidah.

"I request Rafidah's wisdom and cooperation in bringing forward the plan to March in line with the party's general assembly."

Rafidah responded by saying she had yet to read Shahrizat's statement.

"I will comment on it tomorrow," she said via a text message.

Rafidah's plan, outlined at a special briefing for Wanita Umno divisional leaders on Aug 4, had caught many by surprise. Sources said she did not consult other party leaders.

She had proposed that she and Shahrizat defend their seats in the party polls in March. She promised to hand over the movement's leadership to Shahrizat in June, and urged divisions not to nominate any challengers for the top two posts in Wanita Umno to avoid in-fighting.

In response, Shahrizat stated she would defend her deputy head post.

But since the divisional meetings started on Oct 9, many divisions have ignored the plan, as 73 of them nominated Shahrizat for the Wanita Umno head's post. Rafidah received 117 nominations, while another division -- Pokok Sena -- has yet to meet.

Shahrizat said she wanted to seek an amicable solution with Rafidah and Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has been nominated to contest the deputy head's post.

"Our decision should not weaken Wanita Umno, instead put it on a more stable and united platform."

She said Rafidah's plan was to ensure there was no power struggle in the movement.

"The plan was to ensure a smooth transition between Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak without Wanita Umno providing any distraction.

"Any contest in Wanita Umno would rock the stability as we are the party's backbone."

Sources said yesterday that the Wanita Umno meeting today would be fiery.

"Rafidah does not take things lying down. She still has the fighting spirit and is upset that Shahrizat has broken her promise," an executive council member said.

"To prove a point, Rafidah would most likely defend her post as she has nothing to lose."

Another member said the 73 nominations that Shahrizat received was an indication that Wanita members wanted her to lead.

"This is despite her saying that she did not want to challenge Rafidah. She must not disappoint her supporters."

Rafidah, who won the Wanita Umno deputy head's post in 1980, became its head in 1984. She was returned unopposed in 1986, 1990 and 1993. She lost the post in 1996 but made a comeback in 2000 and was returned unopposed in 2004.

Shahrizat won the deputy head's post in 2000 and was returned unopposed in 2004 (NST)