THE outcome today of an election petition against Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, the Kuala Kangsar member of parliament, will affect her intention of defending the Wanita Umno leadership in the December party elections.

If the Taiping High Court rules in favour of Rafidah, it would boost her bid to defend the post, which she has held for more than 20 years since taking over from Tan Sri Aishah Ghani (except for one term when she lost to Datuk Seri Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman 10 years ago).

However, if Rafidah loses the seat and, thus, a by-election is held, regardless of whether she is renominated, she may face obstacles to retaining her post.

Her victory in the general election is being challenged on the grounds that the returning officer, Datuk Mohd Mohd Ghazali Jalal, had accepted her candidacy despite her not signing two of the three nomination forms.

Rafidah was returned by a majority of 1,458 votes against Perak Pas deputy commissioner Dr Khairuddin Abdul Malik.
As it is, several Wanita Umno executive council members and divisional heads are calling for change in the movement's leadership.

Malacca Wanita Umno head Datuk Hazizah Mohd Sultan said Rafidah was aware of the development at the grassroots and the movement's election issue was discussed at its executive council meeting last month.

"The signs are clear that the grassroots want change. They want new faces for the top two posts. Rafidah has been there for too long.

"I believe this will become clearer once the Wanita divisional meetings start in October when nominations are made for the posts in the December party elections."

A former state Wanita head and a one-time supporter of Rafidah said: "The moment Rafidah was dropped as a minister in March, problems and dissatisfactions started.

"A number of the Wanita members no longer wanted her.

"These calls will grow stronger if Rafidah loses the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat. Even if she is renominated and wins the seat, I believe some Wanita members will want a change.

"However, that doesn't mean everything will turn out fine if the court rules in Rafidah's favour.

"People feel that Rafidah has overstayed. In fact, during the last two party elections, she has said that it would be her last term; it is now time for her to keep her word."

Another Wanita Umno executive council member said Rafidah now had more time for the movement since she is no longer a minister.

"She can meet the members and listen to their issues, concerns and problems.

"This is what we want from our leader. In fact, since March, Rafidah has been travelling all over the country and meeting Wanita Umno members.

"And, furthermore, if the criteria to be Wanita Umno head is that she must be a minister, then who do we have as a replacement for Rafidah?

"Even the vice-head (Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil) is not a minister."

Rafidah, the former international trade and industry minister, wants to continue leading the movement, thus, leaving Shahrizat in a difficult position.

"Shahrizat would prefer that Rafidah hand over the post to her rather than contest. But this will not happen now with Rafidah's announcement.

"That being the situation, Shahrizat has to decide whe-ther she will go against Rafidah or be the loyal deputy."

A Wanita divisional head from Kuala Lumpur said: "Shahrizat had said she is monitoring the situation at the grassroots level before making a decision.

"She did not rule out the possibility of contesting the top post."

Cracks in the movement surfaced over the past few months and they widened after the general election.

Another state Wanita Umno head said: "So far, the only state Wanita heads who have said that they want the Rafidah-Shahrizat pair to stay on are from Johor, Selangor and Pahang.

"But again, these three state Wanita heads are known to be Rafidah's supporters and their views might not reflect the wishes of the members and delegates who will vote in the party elections."

Eventually, it is the court decision today and the divisional meetings in October which will provide a clue to Rafidah's chances of defending her post.