KUALA LUMPUR: After a five-year hiatus from politics, Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil is hitting the ground running to reclaim her spot as the Wanita Umno chief.
Cautiously confident of her chances, she said her "sabbatical" allowed her to obtain a better picture of what the women's movement needs to restore its fervour.
She said while some labelled her as among the old guards seeking a return to the good old days, she believed that her sabbatical had given her a fresh perspective.
"I was able to enter conversations without fear or favour, and find out what exactly the people want from Wanita.
"I have been able to look towards a vision of building rather than staying the course with the status quo," she told the New Straits Times yesterday.
The former Wanita Umno chief and cabinet minister announced her retirement from politics in 2018. She confirmed her return on Feb 17, announcing her candidacy for the Wanita chief post.
She said Wanita Umno members came to see her a year ago, asking her to consider coming out of retirement.
"I didn't make any move. I only took it seriously after the elections when there were no Wanita Umno members in the cabinet.
"We only have Azalina, and although she is not in Wanita Umno per se, she is one of our strongest leaders," she said, referring to Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law and institutional reform.
Shahrizat, however, declined to comment on incumbent Datuk Dr Seri Noraini Ahmad's performance as the wing's chief.
"I'm not here to tear down the work of another woman leader… we get enough of that from the outside. That said, I have been talking with some of the other women leaders, and there are some areas where Wanita Umno could and should be advocating better for," she said.
Shahrizat said one issue which needed immediate attention was meaningful female participation in Malaysian politics.
She questioned if the party's decision to field only 10 per cent of the 1.3 million Wanita Umno members as election candidates was reflective of the wing's potential to lead and mobilise.
"If we learned anything from the 15th General Election, it is that we cannot squander the opportunity to have women's voices and needs reflected in the candidates' list, in the leadership structure, in the Dewan Rakyat, state assemblies and senate as the representatives of the people.
"For that, we must be vocal and visible. Representation matters, and Wanita Umno cannot lead silently from the shadows.
"Constituents have to see this wave of 'tudung merah' (red hijab) in their communities to know that we are standing with them, and for them."
She said there was a need for the party to innovate its approaches and reconnect with the people to regain their trust and remain relevant. Wanita Umno, she added, must be in a position to build on its strengths.
"We know that our party machinery is impressive. In this political climate, we cannot afford to rest on our laurels.
"My vision for Wanita is to regain its voice, its relevance, and its strength in the country."
Shahrizat said she also aimed to end the practice of putting Wanita Umno candidates in "black seats".
"If Wanita Umno entrusts me as their leader, I will be committed to lifting women with me as I go.
"Where possible, we must give women the opportunity to practise leadership, so that we no longer have to hear the old saying that women are inexperienced."
"Where it is impossible, that is exactly where I will raise my voice, and as you know, I can be pretty loud," she said in jest.
