KUALA LUMPUR, 24 March 2009: Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz today denied that there was tension between her and the movement’s deputy chief, Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“I’m surprise at the talks that there is animosity between Shahrizat and me.
“I’m not the enemy of anyone… far from that. Why is it that people see things differently and try to interpret and say that there is animosity,” she told a news conference after chairing the movement’s pre-council meeting at the Menara Dato’ Onn, Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Smiling, Rafidah then looked at Shahrizat, who was seated beside her, and asked, “You musuh dengan I Jat? (Are we in any way enemies, Shahrizat?”)
Shahrizat, who is challenging Rafidah for the movement’s top post, smiled back.
Rafidah was commenting on a news report which claimed that tension between her and Shahrizat had become more apparent in the run up to the movement’s polls tomorrow.
Asked on the contest for the Wanita Umno chief’s post, Rafidah said, it was a normal thing to win or lose.
“It is best that one refrains from making any interpretation as it will lead to negative assumption when in fact, we are one team and one family.
“All the forecasts about Wanita Umno are not necessary. There is no war; we are not Israel and Palestine,” she said.
She hoped that the media would also report positive things about the movement, saying, “Let’s not make too many analyses (on the contest) as this will tarnish Umno’s image. All these forecasts,polls, text messages… why would you want to hurt the feeling of others?
She hoped that all quarters would understand that elections were a democratic process and not a situation where the “winner takes all” as suggested by the report.
“What do we get (when elected)? We get workload, not treasures that the winner takes all. Winner takes all is a Western concept.
“This (contest) is a question of upholding democracy; democracy in the party. Tell this man who had written on Wanita (Umno) to ask us first.”
When a question was posed to Shahrizat on her relations with the Wanita Umno chief, Rafidah interjected, “Are you not listening to me. What do you want me to do… to sleep with her?”
“What relationship are you talking about? Why are you taking it negatively? Jat (Shahrizat) you talk lah, tell him. I am done. I’ve said enough… (he) still raise the issue. He doesn’t believe me.”
To the question, Shahrizat said: “What I want to say is all is well, okay. It is a contest. We have conducted ourselves very well. The delegates will make the decision tomorrow. We are very professional.”
“That’s all and good day,” Rafidah interjected again.
She said Wanita Umno, along with Umno Youth and Puteri Umno, would give full support to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership.
“Wanita Umno is solid, Pemuda is solid, Puteri is solid. Knowing that BN (Barisan Nasional) is giving him (Najib) an undivided support, it would strengthen his leadership.
“The country is facing internal and external challenges. If we derive the strength through unity, God willing we can ride whatever the challenges will be.” — Bernama
