PM: Shahrizat to remain as Wanita Umno chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil will remain as Wanita Umno chief, said Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Friday.
He told her deputy Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who has called for Shahrizat's resignation, to work as a team and maintain a united front.
Najib said Shahrizat need not step down as she had not been charged in court or convicted of any wrondoing.
He was speaking at a press conference after attending a gathering of Wanita Umno members with the party president at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre, here.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Shahrizat and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
About 7,000 Wanita Umno members from throughout the country attended the gathering.
He said Shahrizat's stepping down from her post as Women, Family and Community Development minister which would take effect on April 8, showed her willingness to take moral responsibility.
"She has taken the moral responsibility although there is no proof of any illegal deed on her part, but as the issue involves her family, she has taken that responsibility, a most honourable way to let go her position in the cabinet.
"Because the post of Wanita Umno head is an elected post and based on the principle that a perosn is innocent as long as there is no proof for an alleged offence, there is no reason for Shahrizat's Wanita Umno post to be sacrified or for her to let go of the post," he said.
On March 11, Shahrizat said she would step down from her ministerial post when her term as senator ended on April 8 but would remain as Wanita Umno and Wanita Barisan chief.
The issue of Shahrizat's resignation arose when her husband, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail as the chairman of National Feedlot Corporation was charged with misappropriating a government allocation of RM250mil for its beef production project.
On March 12, Mohamad Salleh pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to two charges of criminal breach of trust of RM49.7mil involving the purchase of luxurious condominium units and land, as well as two charges under the Companies Act.

tunku : as the general election is around the corner, party members should listen to its president's advice or directive. we can see majority of wanita members wants shahrizat to lead them into the election. right now the focus is to win the election, the rest can put aside temporarily.