Q: Of late, there is the perception that Umno is having a leadership crisis. As the party’s backbone, how is Wanita Umno handling this?
A: I have been in politics for 36 years and this is the third Umno president that I’m serving. With every leadership, there will be anxious moments. In politics, you are judged almost every day. I have seen it all and I have trained myself to expect the unexpected. In times of crisis, if everyone, right up to the deputy president, rallies around the president, we will overcome any adversity. Never underestimate the power of party unity. It has always seen us through tough times.
Being in Umno means surrendering a lot of your rights to the party. That has served me well and I guide Wanita along the same principle. Challenges can be overcome if you handle them well. Members must be steadfast in pursuing Umno’s struggles.
Q: Compared with the opposition, Umno does not seem to be aggressive on social media, more so in fighting the war of perception. Your say?
A: Yes, I admit that we are lagging behind (but) we must understand why. For the longest time, Umno has been serving the people through conventional ways: going to the ground and meeting people to help them. For many Umno members, we like to be there physically. If people are sick, we are there. The government’s policies are made in the spirit of serving the people and improving their lives. But with the advent of social media, it seems that it is not so much about touching the hearts and listening to the needs of the people. Now, it’s about people’s perception. It has gone to a level where it is not about being real anymore. It’s about who writes the best, fastest or who has the better strategy in influencing the people’s mindset. Umno members, especially Wanita, are not good at subterfuge. For Wanita, it is not about being keyboard warriors. We do not fan gossip defame or slander. That is not our way.
The opposition does not have to deal with the people on a day-to-day basis. Many of them are just keyboard warriors. But we are not like that. It is a sad day when politics is only about the social media.
Q: But you cannot deny that Umno needs to leverage social media.
A: Yes, Umno must harness the powers of social media but I refuse to sacrifice the integrity of politics just to be a keyboard warrior. At the end of the day, when the dust settles, the people will see the woods for the trees. They will appreciate good policies and the good in the government.
Q: The “break from tradition” by having the chiefs instead of the party deputy president officiating the wings’ meetings has drawn speculation.
A: I have discussed this matter with Wanita leaders, Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Puteri chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin. We took into account the political scenario. It is our decision that it is best that we officiate our own meetings.
Q: How has the removal of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, two top leaders in Umno, from the cabinet affected the party?
A: Personalities can come and go, but the party is here to stay. I am speaking from my experience as I stepped down from the cabinet despite my position as Wanita Umno chief. My resignation as a cabinet member did not affect my position in the party and my party colleagues supported me all the way. At the end of the day, although a (political) position is important, it is not everything.
Q: There are issues of public interest that the party will have to address, more so as it prepares for the 14th General Election. How can Wanita play a tangible role in addressing these issues?
A: We must be realistic and admit that we are experiencing tough times. Once you admit that, you must take steps to address them. Wanita realises that the general election will not be easy, but we are positive that Prime Minister and party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak can lead the way. God-willing, when the issues are answered and the dust settles, we should be ready to face the election. Wanita has always been a stable movement and we do not react hastily or unreasonably. We are like mothers who are always composed in the face of calamities and challenges, but are a wealth of information. Mothers cannot afford to be emotional and must be practical and realistic (in tackling issues).
Q: By the time the party election is held, 137 out of 191 Puteri division chiefs will have been absorbed into Wanita. How can they contribute to Wanita?
A: This is a normal assimilation process and there is nothing unusual about it. You do not join politics for positions. If Puteri leaders want to hold positions in Wanita, they will have to contest. In politics, there is no easy way up. The best girl will win. At the moment, all former Puteri chiefs have been absorbed into the Wanita exco. I have appointed an ex-Puteri secretary to become a treasurer in Wanita and this is a senior rank. We have exercised the open-door policy and I believe in our young. They are like our daughters. If they do well, we will feel proud of them and if they don’t, we will be concerned.
Q: Former Gopeng Wanita Umno division chief Datuk Hamidah Osman had said she would remain loyal to the party and its causes, despite her sacking. Your comments?
A: This is a decision made by the Umno supreme council in a meeting. In the party, we have the constitution and rules. As Wanita chief, I accept it. I am happy to hear her pledge of loyalty to the party and its causes.
Q: What are Wanita’s efforts in drawing the interest of independent and empowered women?
A: When we tackle issues, we touch the people’s hearts and make a difference in their lives. I think these women stand with us on that. There are many professionals who are Wanita members. It’s just that in our red hijab, people don’t see us as lawyers, doctors or accountants. They see us as one. I am proud to say that the majority of our members are highly qualified and we organise a lot of programmes for women. We acknowledge that not everyone is interested in politics. Many highly-qualified women want to be devoted to their professions. To me, that is also part of women’s struggles.
When women excel in life, we share the success. In our hearts, we know that we played a part in it, laying the pathway for them to drive their success.