WANITA Umno head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has said she is not an outsider to Sungai Besar when addressing rumours that she will contest the parliamentary seat in the 14th general election.

Shahrizat said Sungai Besar has traditionally been contested by candidates from Wanita Umno.

“I actually want to address a basic matter, I’m not an outsider in Sungai Besar, I often visit Sungai Besar as Wanita Umno head, especially when the late Noriah Kasnon was the wanita head.

“During the by-election, the Umno Selangor Wanita head and myself became Umno’s machinery in Sungai Besar,” she told reporters at the wedding of Umno Sungai Besar deputy chief Ramli Noraini’s son today.

“I’m not a leader who only stays put in Kuala Lumpur, I go to the ground to understand the voters’ instincts.

Shahrizat, however, refused to comment on whether she will contest the seat in GE14.

The Wanita Umno head last held the Lembah Pantai parliamentary seat for three terms, from 1995 to 2004, before losing it to PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar in the 2008 general election.

She did not contest in the last general election.

“I do fight for all women. What more for seats that women hoped for, Sungai Besar is the only seat with a woman candidate. It would be a great loss if we lose the seat that has traditionally been contested by a woman candidate.

“I will request to the prime minister to give the wing back seats that are traditionally contested by women,” said Shahrizat.

In the 13th general election, Noriah won Sungai Besar with a majority of 399 votes against PAS’ Mohamed Salleh M. Hussin.

In 2016, Noriah died in a helicopter crash while campaigning in the Sarawak state election.

Following that, Budiman Mohd Zohdi, who is also Sungai Panjang assemblyman, won the seat during the subsequent Sungai Besar by-election.

“As a politician, we have to always be prepared to overcome anything. You must be hardworking, and not only because you want to become a candidate,” said Shahrizat.

Umno Sungai Besar division chief Jamal Md Yunos also said during the press conference that his side would welcome Shahrizat if she is contesting for the seat.

Jamal said Budiman has to be prepared to let go of the seat and focus on his Sungai Panjang state seat.

“Budiman is a good leader who works hard and is also popular in Sungai Panjang. So if this happens, we request for Budiman to be prepared to defend Sungai Panjang,” said Jamal.

The Malaysian Insight was also told that Shahrizat visited the Sungai Besar district voting centre after she attended the wedding.

She began her tour around Sungai Besar by visiting the Sungai Berkat district voting centre before heading to Parit Sungai Leman. – February 10, 2018.