Published March 26, 2009

Shahrizat ousts Rafidah in upset win

In contest for Umno Youth leadership, Khairy wins in 3-horse race

By S JAYASANKARAN
IN KUALA LUMPUR

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IN A stunning turn of events, the deputy chief of the women's wing of the dominant United Malays National Organisation (Umno), or Umno, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil deposed Rafidah Aziz, the movement's chief of 25 years, by 257 votes.

The outgoing and the incoming: Ms Rafidah (left) had pledged to step down in June this year in favour of her deputy Ms Shahrizat

In the other contest for the Umno youth post, Khairy Jamaluddin was elected the head when he received 304 votes to beat the two other contenders, Khir Toyo and Mukhriz Mahathir to succeed Hishammuddin Hussein.

The success of Mr Khairy, the son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is a blow to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had not only campaigned for his son Mr Mukhriz, but had singled out Mr Khairy for special criticism over the space of two years for everything from unbridled ambition to influencing Mr Abdullah on matters of government policy.

Mr Khir's loss is surprising as he was tipped to be the front runner. But he has been dogged by opposition allegations of corruption while he was chief minister of Selangor and that may have hurt him especially when Mr Najib implored delegates to elect credible candidates.

The outcome of the women's wing contest is likely to consign Ms Rafidah, one of Malaysia's longest serving International Trade Ministers, to political oblivion as her age - 65 - is against her.

Ms Rafidah was hurt by criticism last year from former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad that she had mismanaged her ministry’s issuance of car import licences.

Ironically, Ms Rafidah won her parliamentary seat of Kuala Kangsar in the last general election while Ms Shahrizat was surprisingly beaten by political novice Nurul Izzah Anwar, the eldest daughter of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Despite the result, however, Mr Abdullah dropped the 'Iron Lady' from his Cabinet while appointing Ms Shahrizat as an 'adviser on women's affairs' with Cabinet status.

Ms Rafidah had originally pledged to step down in June this year in favour of her deputy as Mr Abdullah had also agreed to quit this year.

Ms Shahrizat agreed but Ms Rafidah maintained her June deadline after Mr Abdullah had brought forward his step-down date to March, leading Ms Shahrizat to vie for the top post.

Ms Rafidah was also hurt by criticism last year from Dr Mahathir that she had mismanaged her ministry's issuance of import licences for cars which he alleged had hurt national car maker Proton's fortunes.

Dr Mahathir never retracted his criticism although he acknowledged that Ms Rafidah had been an able trade envoy for Malaysia.

But the trade minister may have been ultimately done in by calls from incoming Prime Minister Najib Razak for a 'generational change' in Umno's leadership.

Mr Najib, who is already president-elect of Umno, takes over from Mr Abdullah on April 3.