KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 — Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil who came out of political retirement has lost out in the race to be the next Wanita Umno chief in the party’s wing election.
Incumbent Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad successfully defended her position, two local news outlets reported, citing unofficial results.
Noraini, who is relatively younger at 55, garnered 106 out of the 189 votes up for grabs, based on unofficial results received this morning, Malay daily Berita Harian reported.
Shahrizat, currently aged 69, was reported to have garnered 70 votes based on unofficial results, news portal Malaysiakini reported.
Although these are unofficial results, Noraini had already taken to Facebook this morning to acknowledge her victory over Shahrizat in their straight fight for the Umno Wanita chief post.
“Thank you to Wanita Umno nationwide and friends #SusahSenangBersama on the support and trust in me to continue to head Wanita Umno as the Umno Malaysia Wanita chief,” she wrote on Facebook, as she urged for them to continue to work together to empower women.
Noraini was previously reported to have described the contest against Shahrizat as a friendly match between a “mother and daughter”.
Shahrizat first became the Wanita Umno chief in 2009 but chose not to defend her post in the 2018 Umno polls, and wanted to let younger members lead and had handpicked Noraini then to be her successor.
After her five-year political hiatus, Shahrizat joined the party elections this year to vie for the post defended by Noraini.
