Call For Wanita Umno Chief Transition Plan To Be Hastened

ALOR STAR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- A Wanita Umno executive committee member has called for the power transition date of the movement to be hastened after party deputy chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil qualified to go for the number one post.
Datuk Maznah Abdul Hamid, who is also Jerlun Wanita division chief, said with the power transition in place in June 2009, Shahrizat would be acting chief for three years before the next party elections, while simultaneously holding the post of deputy chief.
"My division picks Shahrizat for the Wanita chief post as we are confused with the power transition as Rafidah (Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz) has not explained the rationale of relinquishing the post soon after winning it," she said. Umno elections are scheduled for March, next year.
Maznah said an incumbent would normally hand over the reins at the end of his of her term and there had never been a precedent where power transition took place soon after retaining it.
Maznah said Rafidah should follow the footsteps of Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who had decided to hand over power in March next year, instead of in 2010.
Maznah said three years would be a long time for Shahrizat to be acting Wanita chief, during which there would be changes in the political scenario.
She hoped Rafidah, who is the longest-serving woman leader in Umno's history, would make a rational decision in the interest of the movement by setting the pace for second-liners.
"Shahrizat is capable of leading the movement and should be willing to accept nominations for the Wanita chief post and show her leadership qualities," she said.
Maznah claimed that she had been bombarded with phone calls from certain quarters who had warned her not to nominate Shahrizat for the top Wanita post.

tunku : rafidah should resign in march 09 instead of june 09 and let the wanita chief and deputy be contested by others.she should think carefully especially when shahrizat had qualified to go for the number one post despite the so called smooth transition.this shows that wanita umno wants a new leader.if rafidah insisted to go in june than wanita will be without deputy chief.i agree with datuk maznah, what's the rationale of rafidah relinquishing the post soon after winning it, better not to contest it.