'Let's move on,' says Shahrizat

KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita Umno should show a good example as mothers and leaders that it is possible to have a contest in a dignified way, said Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“There was a bit of turbulence last week but we must let it pass and move on,” said the deputy Wanita chief who caused a stir last week when she announced that she would challenge Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for the Wanita Chief post.
Shahrizat who had just returned from Cairo after attending the 2nd Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) Ministerial Women Conference said she was really inspired by the conference.
“Even though there is this Wanita contest, we must put our differences aside and speak as one voice to serve the nation. Women and mothers must show that even in difficult times, we can stand tall with dignity and be big in our hearts.
“We must not be petty,” she added.
Over the last two weeks both Shahrizat and Rafidah supporters have exchanged barbed remarks over the Wanita contest.
Some have accused Shahrizat of breaking her word on the transition plan which would have seen her take over the Wanita Chief post from Rafidah in June just three months after the party elections; while others like Raja Ropiah Raja Abdullah have backed Shahrizat and said the plan was never discussed in the exco meetings and was just forced on them.
Shahrizat however refused to be drawn into this exchange, saying that “We are one. Let’s end this and move on now.”
She hoped that Malaysia would play a leading role in fighting for women especially in the decision-making process in the planning and development of the country.
She acknowledged there were already women in the country like Bank Negara Malaysia governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz in key decision-making roles, but stressed that there were too few of them.
“It's just not enough. We don’t want token representation anymore,” said Shahrizat who is special adviser to the Prime Minister for Women and Social Development Affairs.
She hoped that Wanita Umno would spearhead the effort, be vocal and fight for specific women and family issues.
“We want the women here to look at us as champions for the causes. We women must lead the way in our plural society to ensure a safe, harmonious, progressive and happy nation,” she added.

tunku : i hope shahrizat means what she said.wanita should forget about all the transition matter and just let the members (unfortunately only the members representatives) decide who will be the next wanita chief.don't argue much now as things could be difficult after the election.have the contest in dignified way.