Rafidah: I'm not 'crazy' over cabinet post
Muda Mohd NoorPublished: Nov 22, 2008 8:46 AM | Updated: Nov 22, 2008 9:10 AM
Incumbent Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz has denied rumours that the only reason she agreed to relinquish her post next June was because she was harbouring hopes of securing a cabinet post.
Instead, the long serving women's wing chief said her reason for pushing for the June 2009 transition plan - three months after party polls - was to strengthen the wing and Barisan Nasional after all the setbacks the coalition suffered in the March general election.
Incumbent Wanita Umno chief Rafidah Aziz has denied rumours that the only reason she agreed to relinquish her post next June was because she was harbouring hopes of securing a cabinet post.
Instead, the long serving women's wing chief said her reason for pushing for the June 2009 transition plan - three months after party polls - was to strengthen the wing and Barisan Nasional after all the setbacks the coalition suffered in the March general election.
Traditionally, the leader of the Umno women's wing is allocated a cabinet post. A cabinet reshuffle is expected once Najib Abdul Razak takes over the helm of the party in March next year.
"I am holding to the June 2009 transition plan for the sake of strengthening the Umno women's wing, because we realised that after the heavy defeat in the general elections, the wing's strength had weakened.
"The wing's weaknesses resulted in the defeat by the party in the general elections. If people say that I'm defending my post just to get a cabinet post, that is the work of a crazy person," she said.
Visited by supporters
Rafidah said this during an interview after she had met some 40 supporters at her office at the Umno headquarters in PWTC this morning.
Among the 40 supporters were women's wing heads from five states, several of the wing's exco members and the wing's division chiefs from several states.
The meeting was held after her deputy of eight years, Sharizat Abdul Jalil, announced her intention to contest against Rafidah for the wing's top post.
According to Rafidah, she could not understand Shahrizat's decision to contest for the post since the latter had already agreed to the power transition.
"In the wing's exco meetings, Shahrizat has never said that she disagreed with the transition plan, even though I gave opportunity for her to do so. She didn't say (anything), and instead agreed with the plan.
"I feel it is strange that after the nomination process was completed, the issue of an acting women's wing chief was raised," she said.
Wing's acting-leader
Rafidah announced in August that she would hand over power to her long time deputy in June next year - a signal that the top two posts in the wing should not be challenged.
Had the transition plan gone as scheduled, Shahrizat would effectively serve almost an entire term as an acting wing head.
Rafidah said having an acting-leader in Umno is not unusual.
"Hussien Onn was once acting president for one year and nine months. Hishamuddin (Hussien) was once acting youth chief for two years. Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) was also once acting president.
"Being acting (wing chief) has no limitations. The work is the same," she said.
Rafidah added that Shahrizat should ask Hishamuddin how it felt to be the acting leader of the wing.
"So there is no need to question the role of an acting leader," she added.
She said that the priority now was for the wing to strategise their struggle to do well in the next general elections.
Instead, the long serving women's wing chief said her reason for pushing for the June 2009 transition plan - three months after party polls - was to strengthen the wing and Barisan Nasional after all the setbacks the coalition suffered in the March general election.
Traditionally, the leader of the Umno women's wing is allocated a cabinet post. A cabinet reshuffle is expected once Najib Abdul Razak takes over the helm of the party in March next year."I am holding to the June 2009 transition plan for the sake of strengthening the Umno women's wing, because we realised that after the heavy defeat in the general elections, the wing's strength had weakened.
"The wing's weaknesses resulted in the defeat by the party in the general elections. If people say that I'm defending my post just to get a cabinet post, that is the work of a crazy person," she said.
Visited by supporters
Rafidah said this during an interview after she had met some 40 supporters at her office at the Umno headquarters in PWTC this morning.
Among the 40 supporters were women's wing heads from five states, several of the wing's exco members and the wing's division chiefs from several states.
The meeting was held after her deputy of eight years, Sharizat Abdul Jalil, announced her intention to contest against Rafidah for the wing's top post.According to Rafidah, she could not understand Shahrizat's decision to contest for the post since the latter had already agreed to the power transition.
"In the wing's exco meetings, Shahrizat has never said that she disagreed with the transition plan, even though I gave opportunity for her to do so. She didn't say (anything), and instead agreed with the plan.
"I feel it is strange that after the nomination process was completed, the issue of an acting women's wing chief was raised," she said.
Wing's acting-leader
Rafidah announced in August that she would hand over power to her long time deputy in June next year - a signal that the top two posts in the wing should not be challenged.
Had the transition plan gone as scheduled, Shahrizat would effectively serve almost an entire term as an acting wing head.
Rafidah said having an acting-leader in Umno is not unusual.
"Hussien Onn was once acting president for one year and nine months. Hishamuddin (Hussien) was once acting youth chief for two years. Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) was also once acting president."Being acting (wing chief) has no limitations. The work is the same," she said.
Rafidah added that Shahrizat should ask Hishamuddin how it felt to be the acting leader of the wing.
"So there is no need to question the role of an acting leader," she added.
She said that the priority now was for the wing to strategise their struggle to do well in the next general elections.
View Comments0