At 87, Siti Rahmah is still a gem in Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: The first Malay woman to donate her gold bangle so that Tunku Abdul Rahman could make the trip to London to obtain the country's independence will be among thousands of party members attending the Umno general assembly.

Datuk Siti Rahmah Kassim (pic) is now 87, but remains active in the party.

The first woman to contest in the 1959 elections, Siti Rahmah said Umno members should believe in the party and stay loyal to the leaders.

“Don't join Umno today and hop to another party tomorrow just because someone says that party is better. We shouldn't do that,” she said in an interview with Bernama yesterday.

About the current Umno leaders, Siti Rahmah said: “I think today's leaders also have the spirit of national heroes. They have obviously inherited the attitude of the previous leaders.”

She also opined that the country's leadership under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had discharged its duties with dedication.

She took to task the Opposition parties, which she said were only keen on raising issues and finding fault with the Government to get the people's attention.

“However, these Opposition parties are drumming on empty vessels, and we know that empty vessels make the most noise.

“It's just the Opposition's job. If they don't blame the Government, what else would they do?”

Siti Rahmah said there was no reason to change or form a new government just for the sake of democracy.

Siti Rahmah, who began her political career at the age of 19 and was active in protesting against the Malayan Union, appeared fit when met at the Putra World Trade Centre.

She was attending the international forum organised by Umno in conjunction with the party's general assembly.