From The Star 19th Januray 2000
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Kuldeep S. Jessy
Don't prevent Wanita fight, says Rafidah
BANGI: Any attempt to discourage a contest for the top Wanita Umno post is undemocratic, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz said yesterday. "There is no need for such things. Everyone knows that the supreme council's advice for a no-contest was only for the president and deputy president's posts.
"There is no need to extend it to Wanita Umno. That would really be undemocratic," Rafidah, who is likely to contest the Wanita chief's post, said after opening Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's 18th Career Day.
The International Trade and Industry Minister was referring to a suggestion by the Pasir Mas Wanita Umno division that party president Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad advise Wanita leaders not to contest the Wanita chief's post, currently held by Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman.
Rafidah said she would decide if she was going to contest after the nominations were made for the May 10 elections.
Apart from Rafidah, Dr Siti Zaharah and her deputy Datuk Napsiah Omar have said they will be contesting the post.
On the possibility of a three-cornered fight, Rafidah said: "We are not sure yet what kind of fight we are going to have. We have to wait for the nominations."
She said she had not contacted Napsiah, who is still overseas, to discuss the matter and how to avoid a three-cornered fight, adding: "I don't get in touch with anyone."
Rafidah, who declined to elaborate on her statements, said it looked like the Wanita campaign was heating up because so many comments were being made about it.
"So I will end my comments here by saying we will wait for the nominations," she said.
At a Hari Raya celebration at the Sultan Abdul Aziz children's home in Kuala Kangsar later, Rafidah said she offered to contest the Wanita Umno chief's post because there was enmity within the movement and it needed to be brought back on the right track.
She said she had received feedback from members at the exco and grassroots levels that the movement was now faced with a lot of problems.
"This is clearly true, looking at the recent incidents of sacking. In the history of Wanita Umno, there has never been an incident where the chief sacked someone for not supporting her. So something is wrong," she said.