KUALA LUMPUR: Puteri Umno delegates are excited to be part of the 71st Umno General Assembly, which kicked off this morning with the raising of the Sang Saka Bangsa flag.
Nur Sakinah Kiamin, 32, and Sarimah Mas'ud, 31, said they felt a sense of pride and excitement while participating in the opening ceremony, together with 49 other comrades from their wing.
From the Tanjong Karang, Selangor division, both women said they are glad that their hard work of travelling to and from rehearsals for the ceremony at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) paid off today.
Sakinah, who is a first-timer to the assembly, said it is a rare opportunity to be in the presence of the top leaders of the party.
"I felt very emotional (during the ceremony). At one point, I almost teared up because it’s not easy to be part of such a historical event.
"Without our leaders today, it would not be possible for us young women to stand here.
"We pray that this government will remain in power, and further improve for the future, because if another party were to take over, we do not know what would happen.
"Today, the young and old stood together to honour what we have been struggling for. If there were to be a sudden change, who knows what our fate will be," Sakinah said.
Sarimah, also a first-timer to the event, said it was surreal when the event took place.
She said it wasn't until the event began that she realised how important it was to conduct the opening ceremony.
She said it symbolised the party's successes and struggles throughout the 71 years since it was established.
"It didn't hit me during the rehearsal sessions, but when I was standing in front of the highest party excos and hearing the Bunga Melur song as the flag was being raised – it felt like the experience of a lifetime,” she said.
Sarimah jokingly said that the only downside to the ceremony was not being able to get a selfie with Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
Meanwhile, Puteri Arrisha Abbas, 25, from the Kapar, Selangor division expressed her excitement in joining the formation with 49 other comrades.
"I can't express my feelings right now... Being able to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in person and experiencing the whole event for myself.
"Being part of it not only makes me feel happy, but I have this sense of pride, to see our flag being raised by our party president himself," she added.