Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz (left) and her deputy, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, at a meet-the-delegates session in Kota Baru yesterday. — NST picture by Syamsi Suhaimi |
THE animosity in Wanita Umno has grown so intense that its members expect more than fireworks during its general assembly-cum-election on March 25.
Gone are the days when Wanita leaders met with hugs and kisses. Now, only cool handshakes are exchanged between supporters of Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and her deputy-turned-challenger, Datuk Seri Shah-rizat Abdul Jalil.
Wanita Umno appears headed to a point of no return where whoever wins would inherit a movement so divided that only a miracle could reunite the rival camps.
The contest now is said to be the fiercest ever and far more heated than the 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2000 elections.
After 12 years as chief, Rafidah was challenged for the first time in 1996 and lost by 27 votes to Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman. However, it was a sweet revenge four years later when she defeated Siti Zaharah by 12 votes.
Rafidah's predecessor, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, said both sides badly wanted to win and the contest was no longer seen in a family spirit.
"During my time, we did not attack our opponent directly and were very careful with our choice of words.
"But today, some of the SMSes circulated are slanderous and racist. Maybe we are taking the contest far too seriously. I am very sad that we have gone down to such a low level just because we are desperate to win," Aishah said.
There has been too much bad blood in this year's election. Rafidah's supporters have yet to forgive Shahrizat for going against her numerous pledges not to challenge for the Wanita leadership.
Shahrizat's supporters argue that it was the grassroots who pushed her despite constant pleas that she only intended to defend her post. Shahrizat was nominated by 73 divisions compared with 118 for Rafidah.
"Agreed, that Shahrizat had always said she would not challenge Rafidah. But what about the voice of the grassroots? Do we simply deny their aspirations and ignore their wishes? Are we not told to listen to what the members want?" said an executive council member.
A senior Wanita Umno leader said: "We are lying if we say that everything is fine and this is just a contest. It goes beyond that as the split is beyond repair.
"Rafidah has been the Wanita head for 21 years. In her victory speech in 2000, she said that she would only hold the post for two terms and intended to groom Shahrizat as the successor. So why the U-turn now, whatever her excuses may be?"
It is known that, of late, the relationship between Rafidah and Shahrizat has not been cordial, especially during meet-the-delegates sessions in the various states.
The duo come separately with their supporters, the senior-most of whom are contesting for executive council seats, they hardly smile at each other and do not even sit at the same table at lunch.
It was said that at a delegates' session in Penang, Rafidah in her speech hit out at Shahrizat for supposedly being impatient to take over the movement.
Rafidah's supporters are also upset with Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has since won the Number 2 post unopposed.
"Shahrizat and Kamilia have betrayed us. We told our supporters to nominate Shahrizat as the deputy as we thought that she would honour her promise not to challenge Rafidah.
"And Kamilia kept mum on whether she would accept the nominations to go for the Number 2. If only we saw this coming, we would have nominated Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique," said a state Wanita head.
Another candidate keen to contest the post was former Puteri Umno head Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who, however, failed to secure the 29 minimum nominations required.
"Being the only woman minister from Umno, one would have expected Azalina to easily get the nominations. But Azalina has never made an effort to get closer to us.
"It would be hard for her in the next election as she would be overtaken by other former Puteri leaders who are far better received, like her successor Datuk Noraini Ahmad," said a state Wanita head.
With two weeks left before the election, the competition between the two sides is expected to escalate up to the last minute on March 25.
By: SAJAHAN ABDUL WAHEED
NST-Online / March 09, 2009
Wanita Umno appears headed to a point of no return where whoever wins would inherit a movement so divided that only a miracle could reunite the rival camps.
The contest now is said to be the fiercest ever and far more heated than the 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2000 elections.
After 12 years as chief, Rafidah was challenged for the first time in 1996 and lost by 27 votes to Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman. However, it was a sweet revenge four years later when she defeated Siti Zaharah by 12 votes.
Rafidah's predecessor, Tan Sri Aishah Ghani, said both sides badly wanted to win and the contest was no longer seen in a family spirit.
"During my time, we did not attack our opponent directly and were very careful with our choice of words.
"But today, some of the SMSes circulated are slanderous and racist. Maybe we are taking the contest far too seriously. I am very sad that we have gone down to such a low level just because we are desperate to win," Aishah said.
There has been too much bad blood in this year's election. Rafidah's supporters have yet to forgive Shahrizat for going against her numerous pledges not to challenge for the Wanita leadership.
Shahrizat's supporters argue that it was the grassroots who pushed her despite constant pleas that she only intended to defend her post. Shahrizat was nominated by 73 divisions compared with 118 for Rafidah.
"Agreed, that Shahrizat had always said she would not challenge Rafidah. But what about the voice of the grassroots? Do we simply deny their aspirations and ignore their wishes? Are we not told to listen to what the members want?" said an executive council member.
A senior Wanita Umno leader said: "We are lying if we say that everything is fine and this is just a contest. It goes beyond that as the split is beyond repair.
"Rafidah has been the Wanita head for 21 years. In her victory speech in 2000, she said that she would only hold the post for two terms and intended to groom Shahrizat as the successor. So why the U-turn now, whatever her excuses may be?"
It is known that, of late, the relationship between Rafidah and Shahrizat has not been cordial, especially during meet-the-delegates sessions in the various states.
The duo come separately with their supporters, the senior-most of whom are contesting for executive council seats, they hardly smile at each other and do not even sit at the same table at lunch.
It was said that at a delegates' session in Penang, Rafidah in her speech hit out at Shahrizat for supposedly being impatient to take over the movement.
Rafidah's supporters are also upset with Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has since won the Number 2 post unopposed.
"Shahrizat and Kamilia have betrayed us. We told our supporters to nominate Shahrizat as the deputy as we thought that she would honour her promise not to challenge Rafidah.
"And Kamilia kept mum on whether she would accept the nominations to go for the Number 2. If only we saw this coming, we would have nominated Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique," said a state Wanita head.
Another candidate keen to contest the post was former Puteri Umno head Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who, however, failed to secure the 29 minimum nominations required.
"Being the only woman minister from Umno, one would have expected Azalina to easily get the nominations. But Azalina has never made an effort to get closer to us.
"It would be hard for her in the next election as she would be overtaken by other former Puteri leaders who are far better received, like her successor Datuk Noraini Ahmad," said a state Wanita head.
With two weeks left before the election, the competition between the two sides is expected to escalate up to the last minute on March 25.
By: SAJAHAN ABDUL WAHEED
NST-Online / March 09, 2009
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