KOTA KINABALU: The majority of Wanita Umno grassroots in Sabah want a change in leadership in the movement, state Wanita chief Senator Datuk Armani Mahiruddin said yesterday.

She said this was shown by the fact that 14 of the 25 divisions that had held their delegates' meetings had nominated Wanita deputy chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil to contest the movement's top post.

"I believe this is what the grassroots members want and the 14 divisions want a major change in the national Wanita Umno leadership next year."

She said Sabah Wanita Umno also supported the move by the executive committee member Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim to contest the vice-chief's post.

Armani also agreed with Kamilia's stand to reject the transition plan that had been accepted by the movement's leadership on Aug 4.
Under the transition plan, Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz was to hand over the leadership to Shahrizat in June, three months after the party polls in March, to ensure there was no contest for both leaders.

On another matter, Armani said there were no cases of violation of party ethics as claimed to be happening in some of the Sabah divisions. -- Bernama