Shahrizat says will not contest in GE13

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 – Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today confirmed that she will not be contesting in the 13th general election.

Shahrizat, who is also Wanita Barisan Nasional (BN) chief, said the 13th general election was not a good time for her to contest, but to help strengthen the Wanita election machinery to ensure victory for BN.

“Although I’m the army general for Wanita, it doesn’t necessarily mean that I have to contest. I’m a realistic person, the time for me will come, but not during the 13th general election,” she told a press conference here today.

Shahrizat began her political career in 1982 when she was appointed as Kepong Baru Wanita Umno chief and climbed the ladder to lead Wanita Umno as its chief for 2008/2011 term after defeating Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

In the 2008 general election, Shahrizat, who was then the incumbent for Lembah Pantai, lost the parliamentary seat to Nurul Izzah Anwar of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) with 2,895-vote majority.

On April 2009, Shahrizat was appointed Senator and became the Women, Family and Community Development Minister before stepping down on March 11, 2012.

Shahrizat said she had informed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, of her decision not to contest in the 13th general election since last year.

While expressing gratitude to Wanita BN and Umno members for their supports all this years, Shahrizat said she hoped they would accept it and continue giving their support to Wanita candidates to ensure bigger victory for BN.

At present, Wanita BN holds 12 parliamentary  and 25 state seats.

Commenting on the BN election manifesto themed ‘A Promise of Hope’, Shahrizat said it would become the talisman for Wanita Umno and Wanita BN during their house-to-house election campaign.

She said women voters should study the manifesto from all angles and not just on women-related issues.

“All aspects stated in the manifesto will affect the women, including the pledge to build one million affordable houses. Women as mothers, wives and housewives will benefit most from it,” she added. – Bernama