PUTERI Umno aims to register half a million members by the end of the year and continue providing a platform for young women to play a role in nation-building.
Its chief, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said through the movement, young women were given the opportunity to contribute to the government, government-linked companies and the party.
Mas Ermieyati, who is also deputy tourism and culture minister, said young women had much to offer, adding that since its formation in 2001, Puteri Umno held the key in prepping future leaders in the country.
The New Straits Times met with her recently to speak about her hopes and aspirations for the movement and party.
Question: How do you plan to sign up 500,000 new members in less than seven months?
Answer: We started about 16 years ago and we already have 400,000 members. To reach the half a million mark is not impossible.
We have made plans on how to attract young women to join us, especially graduates and professionals. We are women, too; we share and understand their dreams. We know what they want and we understand that it’s not easy to achieve our dreams, which is why Puteri Umno constantly holds programmes and training.
We are recognised by Barisan Nasional and given the trust by Umno to handle various ministerial posts since its formation. These opportunities gave us young women hope because we know if we work hard enough, we can achieve our dreams.
Look at our past Puteri chiefs. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is now a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and she has previously held different ministerial posts. Datuk Noraini Ahmad became the first Malaysian to be elected as chairman of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin was a deputy health minister and she is now the deputy works minister.
Q: How important is Puteri Umno’s role in making the party the strongest political organisation in the country?
A: Many members who are career professionals in Puteri Umno look forward to be given more involvement in politics in the hopes that the government can offer them the opportunity to grow and become future leaders.
Puteri Umno members always keep up and understand the current political situation to better serve young women through political knowledge enrichment.
Puteri Umno always champions issues to bridge the gap and optimise social and electronic media to spread good deeds.
Q: Umno has progressed after 71 years. How can Puteri Umno step up to the task of pushing the country to greater heights?
A: We would like to be the force behind the government to ensure that young women are given equal opportunity in all aspects, especially in business and corporate sectors.
We will continuously recommend that at least 10 per cent of women below the age of 45 fill up posts in government-linked companies and government agencies.
Puteri Umno will push for at least 50 per cent of local experts among women, as aspired to by the National Transformation 2050, from the education and employment point of view, to have more technocrats, scientists, economists and in other fields.
Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently called on youth to be job creators and Puteri Umno has taken up the challenge. I know young Malaysian women can be job creators, too, because I believe in them and their capabilities.
Q: How has Puteri Umno prepared for the 14th General Election? With the unveiling of Jalinan Rakyat Plus recently, how can it guide the movement?
A: Jalinan Rakyat Plus is a movement that will complement Umno and BN as election machineries in facing GE14.
Puteri Umno will continue to educate young women voters on the importance of preserving government policy to maintain stability and peace.
Key leaders in Puteri Umno have started preparing their charges and have covered a lot of groundwork for several months now.
We may not know when the date is but we prefer to be ready and there are also things that we do at all times, not just when elections are near.
For instance, we have a programme called “Puteri Peduli”, where members will engage with the needy.
Yes, we don’t exactly have a lot of money for donation, but my girls will go everywhere to find funders and, from there, the money can be channelled directly to the needy.
Q: What is Puteri Umno looking at in terms of the participation of female Umno candidates in GE14? Any indication of the number, or percentage compared with the men this time around? Will it be higher compared with 2013?
A: We leave it to the Umno Supreme Council to decide on who and how many Puteri Umno candidates will contest in GE14. We will present to the Supreme Council with a list of winnable candidates when the time comes.
We would also like the people to decide based on contributions made by each of our members along with Puteri Umno’s involvement with society.
If Puteri Umno is given the opportunity to put up more candidates for GE14, more Puteri representatives will be appointed as state executive councillors, deputy ministers and even ministers.