KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 — Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has formally submitted herself as a candidate to be the next Wanita Umno chief.

The former minister was at the party headquarters in Menara Dato’ Onn to hand in her nomination papers in person, New Straits Times reported this afternoon.

Shahrizat is likely to face off against incumbent Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad who replaced her as Wanita chief in 2018 in the party polls next month.

Shahrizat first became the Umno women’s wing chief in 2009 but chose not to defend her post in the 2018 Umno polls.

At the time, she said her decision was to allow younger members to lead the wing, as well as the public’s wish to see changes in Umno.

But as many as 147 Wanita division chiefs nationwide have been reported urging Shahrizat to make a comeback in recent days.

Political observers contacted by Malay Mail said that Shahrizat’s return might not augur well for the country’s largest political party at a time when it is needs to reinvent itself and needs fresh leaders, as the 69-year-old’s age could work against her.