Lawyer Raihan Sulaiman Palestin has called on Wanita Umno members not to “demonise” her as she was acting on the aspirations of the grassroots.
Her husband and brothers accompanied Raihan, 47, today when she submitted her nomination forms at the party’s headquarters in Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur.
She will challenge Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the post in a bid to “clean up” the wing.
The Umno Kulim Bandar Baru Wanita chief emotionally insisted that her challenge was not a personal contest against Shahrizat, who still has considerable popularity despite a cattle-farming scandal linked to her family.
“Don’t try to pit me against Datuk Seri Shahrizat. Datuk Seri Shahrizat has nothing to do with this. I came here to take responsibility of the grassroots, it has nothing to do with me,” the daughter of former Umno information chief Suleiman Palestin told reporters today.
“I am contesting to clean up the wing. Shahrizat will continue to be my sister,” she said.
However, she refused to elaborate more on her plans to “clean up” the wing.
Shahrizat, who submitted her forms earlier, said she is defending her post to champion the rights of women.
“I will bring up Wanita issues. I will ensure the talent of Wanita is recognised, that they are given opportunities to shine and to make sure we are given the same opportunities to administer the country as our male counterparts,” she said.
Former Puteri Umno chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had previously announced that she would be a candidate but changed her mind days later and announced she would be targeting a supreme council post.
Registration of candidates to contest the top positions in the Wanita, Youth and Puteri Umno wings is on today. The elections will be held on October 12. – September 21, 2013.
