IPOH: The majority of Perak Wanita Umno members will back Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil for the movement's top post in the party elections in March next year.

Tan Sri Napsiah Omar says it will help rejuvenate the movement

State Wanita deputy chief Datuk Rusnah Kassim said this was in line with the support shown for Shahrizat by 22 of the 24 divisions in Perak.

"Like what was said earlier, we have called for Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz to hand over the leadership in March.

"As far as we are concerned, we will support (Shahrizat should Rafidah decide to contest against her)," she said when asked to comment on Shahrizat's decision to go for the top post yesterday.

Only two divisions, Parit Buntar and Padang Rengas, have not declared support for Shahrizat.
State Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali said he would leave it to the movement to sort out the leadership issue.

In Butterworth, Penang Wanita Umno chief Datuk Jahara Hamid said Shahrizat should go for the top post if a contest was unavoidable.

The Tasek Gelugor division Wanita chief had on Monday issued a statement that the movement in Penang supported the leadership change in June.

However, 10 of 13 Wanita divisions in the state had insisted that Rafidah step aside for Shahrizat in March.

In Alor Star, Kedah Wanita Umno information chief Noorhashita Mad Isa said 12 of the 15 divisions in the state were rooting for Shahrizat.

"Rafidah should hand over the post to her deputy because she has held the post for too long. We need a change at the top."

Present at the press conference were the Wanita division chiefs of Padang Terap, Kuala Kedah, Kubang Pasu, Kulim-Bandar Baharu, Merbok, Sungai Petani, Jerlun and Baling.

Noorhashita said four other Wanita divisions from Pendang, Sik, Langkawi and Padang Serai, had pledged to support Shahrizat although they could not make it for the press conference.

She said the remaining three Wanita Umno divisions -- Alor Star, Jerai and Pokok Sena -- had yet to decide their position on the matter.

Conspicuously missing at the conference were state Wanita Umno chief Datin Salmah Mat Isa and her deputy, Khalijah Arhad.

Asked to comment on Salmah's recent announcement that Kedah Wanita Umno supported the June transition plan, Noorhashita said it was her personal opinion.

In Seremban, state Umno Wanita chief Datuk Norhayati Omar urged members to work hard for the candidate of their choice.

Norhayati, who is also the Kuala Pilah Umno Wanita division chief, said her division would give its full support to Shahrizat.

"We would like to see change in Wanita Umno. We will do all we can to help Shahrizat win the top post.

"The announcement is clear and members are ready to show their support for her," she added.

Wanita Umno permanent chairman Tan Sri Napsiah Omar also welcomed Shahrizat's announcement.

She hoped that it would help to rejuvenate the movement.