KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hinted that he wants Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad to return as Wanita Umno chief in the party's election next month.
This came after Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, responded to an additional question by Noraini, who is Parit Sulong member of parliament, at the Dewan Rakyat sitting this morning.
Noraini, who is former higher education minister, suggested that the government engage with industry players more to increase the employability of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) graduates.
"Parit Sulong (Noraini) made a good suggestion. The suggestion she made has actually already been implemented and will continue.
"Tomorrow, 10 memoranda of agreement (MoA) will be inked between industry players and TVET programme providers.
"Parit Sulong is farsighted. She is more than qualified to defend her post (in the Umno election). I hope she wins," said Zahid, who is also rural and regional development minister.
Speculation is rife that Noraini will defend her Wanita Umno chief post although she has yet to make an official announcement on the matter.
If Noraini joins the race, she will face off with former Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who held the position from 2008 to 2018.
After announcing her retirement from politics about five years ago, Shahrizat recently announced that she is making a comeback.
On Friday, Shahrizat submitted her nomination papers for the Wanita Umno chief post at the Umno headquarters in Menara Dato Onn here.