Puteri must wake up from deep slumber

The Umno general assembly is a chance for Umno young women's wing to make itself visible and relevant again.

COMMENT

KUALA LUMPUR: Puteri Umno is not making much of an impact these days. It seems to be hibernating, oblivious to the political storms buffeting Umno and its leaders.

The movement was set up in 2001 to primarily engage with youngsters, particularly women aged 35 and below and who are either in college or working.

Initially it was full of enthusiasm and drive under the leadership of Azalina Othman Said who helmed the movement from 2002 to 2004. It even “stole” the limelight from Wanita Umno.

But over the years the movement has lost its energy and, under the current leadership of Rosnah Shirlin Rashid, it seems to be out of touch with reality. It has gone into deep slumber.

It is not connecting with today’s youngsters who number about three million and who are first time-voters in the coming general election.

It is hardly heard of in the country’s vigorous political scene as its activities are not mentioned much in the public domain.

The movement’s failure in engaging with the youngsters probably prompted Umno president Najib Tun Razak to reach out to the youngsters himself through the alternative media such as Facebook, Twitter and so on.

In recent times, when Najib came under heavy fire from the opposition, the Puteri Umno brigade is nowhere to be seen to defend the big boss. Political observers believe this silence is not good for Umno’s image and credibility.

At a time when Najib sorely needs the support of its members to help him move forward in his transformation programmes against the opposition onslaught, the Puteri movement is just not there to repulse the attacks.

The movement also does not seem to be moving with the times. It is not seen using the new media such as blogs or online news portals to reach out to the female youngsters and connect intellectually with them to woo them over to Umno and Barisan Nasional.

Followers waiting for instructions

Puteri’s “silence” has created a vacuum and allowed the opposition to step in with its new media tools to influence the young, susceptible minds.

Puteri’s failure to engage the youngsters through the new media has given the opposition the opportunity to conduct their “psy-war” without much hindrance.

Puteri, whose members comprised intellectuals and ironically computer-savvy females, had lost the chance to engage with the youngsters during the time when Umno was at a low ebb in the aftermath of the 2008 tsunami.

The movement just did not have the leadership capability to reach out to the youngsters using the new media as the platform.

Its failure has somewhat driven the youngsters to the other side where its use of the new media has been effective in influencing the young blood.

The movement is now seen as a follower waiting for instructions from the top as it cannot move on its own for reasons best known to its leaders.

Given such a disturbing development, the Umno general assembly will be a good time for the movement to make itself visible and relevant again.

Puteri should change its “inferiority complex” against its bigger sister (Wanita) and move forward aggressively to capture the large young votebank.

It must defend Umno-BN as Najib cannot fight a lone battle against what many political observers see as a strong, determined opposition front.

Najib needs help from all the movements in the party, more so when Wanita Umno seems to be crippled under its current impotent chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

As such, it is up to Puteri to stand up and be seen and counted as a force that can be depended on to fight the looming crucial electoral battle.