KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Datuk Seri Shahrizat Jalil today urged old rivals not to resurrect past vendettas by sending proxies against her in the race to head Wanita Umno, in an apparent allusion to predecessor Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

The incumbent said any challenger keen to take on her mantle at the head of the wing should be sincere in wanting to take up the party’s “struggle”.

“If they want to contest merely to protest, then it means they do not embrace the spirit of the struggle,” the special advisor to the prime minister was quoted as saying by Berita Harian today.

“Don’t enter for vengeance or for fun or to become a proxy... don’t.”

On Saturday and just minutes before nominations for the Umno party elections were closed, former deputy minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan threw her hat in the ring as a contender to Shahrizat.

Maznah’s surprise 11th-hour entry was soon attributed as an attempt by Rafidah, a former Wanita Umno chief, to intercede via a proxy.

But even as the senator came out to deny that she was acting as an intermediary, another rumour surfaced that she had Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s blessings to contest as she was from his home state Pahang.

“It is my decision (to contest). Whether or not it is a coincidence, I think the allegations based on my home state is backwards,” Maznah was quoted as saying by another daily, Sinar Harian.

“I found a calling to contest as I felt my experience and qualifications was sufficient and it was my responsibility to offer myself as a candidate to become Wanita Umno chief.”

Today, Shahrizat questioned Maznah’s involvement in the wing’s activities, saying she was an infrequent presence at their council meetings and events.

“Maybe she is too busy with her position as a state assemblyman and deputy head of the Umno division,” Shahrizat was quoted as saying in the report.

Aside from Maznah, Shahrizat is also facing another challenger in Raihan Suleiman Palestin, a daughter of a former Umno minister.

Former Puteri Umno chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othmand had initiailly considered a run against Shahrizat but later decided against it.

Voting for the Wanita Umno race will take place on October 12, together with those for the Youth and Puteri wings.