PADANG BESAR, Oct 15 — Padang Besar Umno division has proposed for Mentri Besar of Perlis to be appointed from among women candidates.

Its chief Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said it is one of the matters that will be proposed to central Umno leadership in preparation for the 15th General Election (GE15), at a time when the party wants to place 30 per cent of women as election candidates and in the economic field.

"If we want to place 30 per cent (women) as Mentri Besar across the country it is quite impossible and Padang Besar Umno has proposed that Perlis be the first state to appoint a female Mentri Besar.

"This is to prove that we (Umno) are sincere in providing opportunities to women in this state,” said the Padang Besar Member of Parliament to reporters after officiating the division conference here today.

Zahidi, who is also a member of the Umno supreme council, called on Wanita Umno to work hard to ensure victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) in GE15.

Meanwhile, another division’s proposal that will be forwarded to the central leadership is for Umno to compete in the Titi Tinggi state seat.

Titi Tinggi has been an MCA traditional seat since 1974 which is currently held by Teh Chai Aan.

"I have informed MCA of this matter to give way to Umno to compete in the five state seats in the Padang Besar parliamentary constituency, namely Titi Tinggi, Beseri, Chuping, Mata Ayer and Santan,” he said.

He said to let MCA contest in the constituency with a majority of Chinese voters for GE15 such as Indera Kayangan state seat because it has strength there. — Bernama