'Puteri Umno, a wasted pool of talents'

By Muda Mohd Noor - Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: A former Puteri Umno leader has called for an amendment to the constitution to allow Puteri members to be automatically absorbed into the Wanita wing once they hit 35 years of age.
Azalina Othman Said said currently Puteri members who reach 35 have to apply to join the Wanita wing.
“The policy must change. It’s automatic entry for Putera members into Umno Youth. The same convenience must apply to Puteri.
“From what I gather, most of the current members are hesitant or simply unwilling to go through the process of applying to join the Women’s wing.
“It’s a pity really to lose talented and dedicated Malays over a simple issue,” she said, adding that this was the reason why another former chief Noraini Ahmad had not applied to join the women’s wing.
Azlina said many of the old guard in the Wanita wing disliked Puteri members whom they consider emotional.
“But if this matter is not addressed quickly, it would lead to Puteri Umno’s eventual demise,” she tod FMT recently.
Biggest challenge
Azlina, who helmed the movement from 2002-2004, said Puteri Umno’s biggest challenge now was dealing with a shortage of leaders.
“When I was the leader, there was Noraini. After Noraini there was Rosnah (Ahmad Shirlin). Now who are the leaders-in-waiting?,” she asked.
“Leaders must be brave in politics and there are some in Puteri Umno who are like that but the opportunities to rise are far between,” said the Johor Pengerang division chief.
According to Azalina, when she was the Puteri chief, she had direct guidance from some of the top national leaders such as Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Khalil Yaakob.
“I asked the supreme council at the time to be alert to the movement so that we could achieve the objectives which were set out,” she said.
But according to her, the current situation is different.
“I fear that Puteri Umno, which was once used to contain the flow of young Malays towards the opposition, would be dissolved because it is unable to function as it should,” she said.