Umno grassroot leader urges more female representation in state polls

KUALA LUMPUR - Echoing her leader's call for more women participation in the coming state polls, a female grassroot leader of Umno reminded the party leadership that "there would be no Umno without its Wanita wing."

In fact, Maran information chief Nurul Ashiqin Shamsuri did not hold back in expressing her interest in seeing the party nominating more of its female members as candidates in the Kedah, Penang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan elections.

"Of course, we want more women candidates for the upcoming state elections.

"Even our chief Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Umno Wanita) was pushing for 30 percent women representation to compete in the next state election," she told Sinar Daily when met during the Wanita wing general meeting for 2023, at the party headquarters, here, today.

In her keynote address earlier today, Noraini underscored the importance of the 30 per cent quota for female representation, adding that members in the Wanita wing "will never get tired of fighting for such matter."

When asked about her views on the dynamics of Barisan Nasional (BN) cooperation with Pakatan Harapan (PH) for the coming state polls, Ashiqin remarked that the party's leadership was "wise enough" to determine what's best for the party.

"We (Wanita members) will always be there for the party because we are the backbone of Umno.

"Even if there are zero female candidates, we will be on the ground to support Umno.

"There would be no Umno without us," she said.