Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil #tudungmerah

Q: You stepped down from the post of Wanita Umno Chief in 2018, why have you returned?

For three years, I did not disturb Wanita after I stepped back. To step into the ring again is not an ad hoc decision – it took me a year before I decided.

However, an “enough number” of Wanita leaders came to see me last year and said we have a new political landscape and we have to regain our strength.

> Some say that you should let the younger ones carry on and you are “too old” to make a return. Do you agree? This may be the worst of times for me to go in.

People ask me why come in now? Nothing more in Umno? And what about your age?

I tell them: what age? I do not feel my age – one only ages when you have no mission or vision and you are so negative about life. If you don’t see a future in Umno, then you have aged. But I see a bright future in Umno – for I want to lead Wanita to return Umno to its glory once again.

> You were vocal when you led Wanita Umno before 2018. What kind of a leader do you strive to be this time?I am not an armchair leader, the women in Wanita inspire me. If you are a member of parliament, but if you do not know how to harness that, it is useless.

A leader must have a vision and cannot work in silos. She must be a team player.

When we face challenges, it is not an excuse for a leader not to lead.

For example, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Wanita Umno could have been the frontliners as we had all the skills and resources, but we missed the chance to do so. I know they did lots of work during the pandemic but they worked in silos.

The fact that I am neither an MP or a minister right now is quite advantageous for me as rejuvenating the Wanita Umno all over the country would take much time and we have the pending state elections.

> How can you convince the men in Umno that Wanita are not second-class citizens in the party?Without Wanita Umno, Umno could have never been strong, as we are the mothers.

The powerful notion of a mother is indisputable - as mothers have proven they can take on the world. In every family, if the mother has a vision and is educated, the family can withstand anything and the children will be successful. It is the same in Umno.

During my time, I had already laid the ground for Wanita to be empowered. As for the men, we merely have to present our case and give them reasons good enough why they should work with Wanita. The men have to understand that Wanita will work by the sides, not behind them.

> The political landscape has altered significantly since 2018. Are you able to comprehend and lead the Wanita in the present political climate?

We must be vocal and visible. Representation matters – Wanita Umno cannot lead silently from the shadows. Constituents have to see this wave of #tudungmerah in their communities to know that we are standing with them and standing up for them.

More women than men graduate from higher education institutions, and yet those numbers do not translate into leadership positions in the world of work, let alone politics.

During my tenure as women, family and community development minister, I was able to implement policies that resulted in minimum 30% women in leadership positions in the public and private sector. Politics is the next frontier. As a country we have been inching towards this goal of 30% for 30 years now, and it’s not enough any more.

> How would you uplift the many Wanita members, especially in the semi-urban and rural areas as these are the biggest machineries of the party and important voters?

Every woman must have her own wallet. I am eager to bring Wanita Umno to the global stage of economy. Financial independence is key to ensuring the women are able to embrace their fullest potential – the challenge being to navigate the post-Covid-19 period when many women have had to drop out of the labour force but now want to re-enter.

Women dropped out because they were the main care-givers. Then again, we also have to look at the women who have fallen through the cracks – those outside formal and regular employment. These are the groups where Wanita Umno voices will matter – by advocating sustainable and long-term solution in policy and law. We cannot afford to remain silent any longer.