KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 ― Wanita Umno hopeful Datuk Maznah Mazlan may not be a household name like incumbent chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, but one analyst predicted that the clean slate could be the very thing that might let her pull off an upset victory in next week’s election.

Maznah’s path has also been made easier after another strong contender, former Puteri chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, dropped out before nominations, said Professor Dr Jayum Jawan of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

“She has what it takes, although she is not really a known national figure compared to Shahrizat.

“It’s not that Maznah has a strong quality to unseat her but because of Shahrizat’s ‘tainted image’, that might give the upper hand to her challenger,” he told The Malay Mail Online when contacted.

Shahrizat was previously appointed women, family and community development minister via her senatorship after she lost her Lembah Pantai federal seat in Election 2008, but was effectively dropped from the Cabinet in April when her spot in Dewan Negara was not renewed following revelations linking her family to the federally funded RM250 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) cattle-farming project.

The disclosure made in the Auditor-General’s Report 2011 as well as subsequently leaked financial documents from the National Feedlot Corporation run by her spouse and children were later used by political rivals to target Shahrizat.

She was thrown another lifeline in August, however, when she was made special advisor to the prime minister — a post that is accorded full ministerial status and privileges.

Despite conceding that Shahrizat remained popular within the wing, Jayum said there was a growing call for change and young blood within Umno that could negate her existing support.

But Wanita Umno Information chief Datuk Hamidah Osman disagreed, saying that Shahrizat’s lead in popularity will help keep her seated at the top Wanita Umno post.

“I’m going to be frank; I think Shahrizat is in quite in a strong position because Maznah has come in [to the race] late. So looking at it, the strong support still lies in [sic] Shahrizat.

“People still want her because they appreciate what she has done, even though it was only one term, it showed significant changes in Wanita and she managed to lead Wanita Umno, especially during the last general election,” Hamidah said in a phone interview.

The Sungai Rapat assemblyman said Shahrizat has also shown that she has the charisma to unite the previously fractured Wanita Umno.

Several division Wanita Umno leaders have also publicly expressed support for Shahrizat in the contest to retain her post, despite the furore over the NFC.

“This is what I gathered from going to the ground and meeting grassroots members. I think maybe the other candidate can get some a few division, but I think Shahrizat, she can win,” Hamidah said.

Up until nominations on September 28, Shahrizat had appeared to see off all potential challengers, most notably when Azalina withdrew citing “advice” she received on her announced intention to contest.

But just minutes before nominations for the Umno wing’s elections were closed, former deputy minister Maznah threw her hat in the ring as a contender to Shahrizat.

Maznah’s surprise 11th-hour entry was soon attributed as an attempt by Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, a former Wanita Umno chief, to intercede via a proxy. Both have since denied the allegations.

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

Considered the backbone of the Malay nationalist party, the head of Wanita Umno is seen as holding considerable clout in the influencing the view of party’s grassroots and running its election machinery.

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