IPOH: Umno Wanita chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abd Jalil today announced that she will not be contesting in the Sungai Besar parliamentary seat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
She said the decision was made after taking into consideration several matters.
It was reported last month that Shahrizat was invited by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos to be a candidate in the area.
"I have informed Jamal and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak that I will not be contesting there (Sungai Besar).
"Once again, the invitation by Jamal is an honour but I have to reject it since there are a lot of potential candidates in Sungai Besar. But rest assured, Sungai Besar is always in my heart," she said, after launching Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) Wanita and Puteri machineries at the Menteri Besar residence today.
Shahrizat added that she will let Najib decide on which area she should be contesting.
"To the question where I will be contesting, I let Datuk Seri Najib to decide but it will not be Sungai Besar," she said.
The launch was also attended by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
He said more women candidates would be placed in the upcoming general election in appreciation of their hard work in the party.
"We can't deny the importance of women's roles in every election, and as such, Perak BN will always have place for women candidates." she said.