Shahrizat, a 'ROLE MODEL' only to corruption-filled Umno: For M'sia, it is a TRAGEDY

It was reported today that the former senator and Minister for Women’s Development Shahrizat Jaili retained her party post as Wanita Umno chief for a second term.

I think that it is rather unfortunate that the women of Umno still do not realize the implications of reinstating Sharizat as the Umno Wanita (women's wing) chief.

If this rot is allowed to continue, our country’s coffers will be plundered further without regards to our children’s future.

With the country’s current dilemma of diminishing economic strength even within the Southeast Asia region, we must seriously consider reversing the situation through serious reform and proper administration. That means electing clean and responsible leaders to lead the country.

Bizarre 'role model'

It is totally bizarre that she harbour hopes to inspire and be a ‘role model’ for women, citing her comeback as an example.

If Sharizat is convincingly uninvolved in the scandal, she would have sued her husband for tarnishing her name. She would also have apologized to the public for the family-related NFC scandal.

Sharizat said that she developed ‘inner-strength’ during the last two years due to the NFC tragedy. It is imperative that I question her if that ‘inner-strength’ means that we should be expecting more unaccounted and family-related fund mismanagement in the future?

What sort of messages is Umno sending to the rakyat – that it is alright for a person associated with scandals to be an office-bearer and to be a national leader?

Worse still, why is there no further action on her husband?

Although Sharizat’s husband has been charged with two counts of Criminal Breach of Trust over his mismanagement of funds in the National Feedlot Corporation, the controversial issue still hovers over Sharizat’s head. The case is still ongoing and there is no conclusion yet.

In the first place, it is perplexing enough that she denied knowledge of her husband siphoning RM81 million from the NFCorp to purchase two luxury condominiums in Bangsar.

How is it possible for a wife whose family members are directors in a public-funded company be ignorant about large amounts being channeled into her family as personal assets without her knowledge?

How much salary do senators and ministers make to be able to afford such luxury condominiums?

Her husband is the chairperson of the NFC while their three children hold executive positions in the company. Her family had abused the public’s trust by using the government’s soft loan to NFCorp which amounted to RM250 million.

Her husband had purchased luxury condominiums, premium land, a luxury car as well as spending on items unrelated to cattle farming, while the NFCorp was found to be making a loss in company operations.

Her husband and three children would NEVER have been the directors of NFCorp if not because of Sharizat.

Zuraida Kamaruddin is the MP for Ampang and the head of the PKR Women's wing