Rina Harun to face lawyer in Bersatu women's top post contest

Contest for the top post of Bersatu's women's wing has reportedly seen a Penang-based lawyer - Azlina Mehtab Mohd Ishaq - announcing a challenge against Rural and Regional Development Minister Rina Harun.

Online portal The Malaysian Insight reported that the 49-year-old Azlina (above) aspires for a bigger voice for women in Bersatu, particularly in decision making roles.

"To empower women, I want to increase their participation at the leadership level.

“This is so that Bersatu is seen as a party that gives equal treatment towards women and that it is sincere about empowering women," she was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

At present, Azlina is the only woman to hold a top party post at division level, as she heads the Kepala Batas Bersatu division.

She has also reportedly been a member of Bersatu’s legal bureau since 2016, the year of its founding.

"I don’t want Srikandi to become just window-dressing. Where they are present but they can’t do anything.

"I want to turn Srikandi into a wing that has a voice at the table," she was further quoted as saying.

In the event of a successful bid against Rina, Azlina indicated plans to restructure the wing so that it can truly become Bersatu's backbone.

"Right now, when I meet Srikandi members at the grassroots level, many complain about the present leadership. They feel that their efforts and welfare are being ignored.

"Srikandi’s direction is not being structured well, even though it should be the party’s backbone and vanguard," she reportedly said.

The Bersatu inaugural polls since the party was formed in 2016 started yesterday, with nominations to contest the branch and division positions.

Elections at branch levels are scheduled to be held from Jan 25 to March 1, followed by voting for positions at division level on April 4.

The party's top leadership will be voted in by delegates at its annual general meeting, which will be held on June 20.

Rina (above) had recently said that she will defend her women's wing chief post, as well as to contest a post in the party’s Sepang division.

In the expected contest, both Rina and Azlina share a similar background of making their political start as Puteri Umno leaders.

Rina was previously quoted by Bernama as saying that she used to head the Sepang Puteri Umno division, while Azlina was the first Penang Puteri Umno state chief.