Confirmed: Shahrizat to go for top post - Malaysiakini

Wanita Umno deputy chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today announced that she will contest for the wing's top post next year.

The former cabinet minister - who was appointed as a special adviser to the prime minister after the March 8 elections following her defeat in the Lembah Pantai parliamentary constituency - made the announcement in a two-paragraph statement this afternoon.

"I, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, hereby confirm that I accept the nominations and support to contest the position of chief of the Wanita Umno Movement Malaysia in March 2009.

"Wanita Umno must be united in strengthening the party as well as be bold in bringing about changes and renewal," read the statement.

The announcement ended speculations as to whether or not Shahrizat would accept the 73 nominations for her to contest against incumbent chief Rafidah Aziz, who received 117 nominations at the division level.

Previously, Rafidah had stated that she would defend her post and hand over the reins to Shahrizat in June.

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