KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 24 — Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad today confirmed that she will be defending her post in the party election next month that will pit her against her predecessor Tan Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

Noraini filed her nomination papers at the Umno headquarters in Menara Dato’ Onn here this morning, The Star reported.

“I may not be loud but I have proven I [can deliver] results that matter.

“Umno is not a mere political party, it is a force that is watched by everyone in the country, not only by its members.

“Everyone is looking at the Umno polls as the party matters in the country’s political landscape.

“Who we choose to lead the party matters. Let’s choose wisely,” she was quoted as saying.

Noraini, 55, was also reported to have described the upcoming contest against 69-year-old Shahrizat as a friendly match between a “mother and daughter”.

Shahrizat first became the Umno women’s wing chief in 2009 but chose not to defend her post in the 2018 Umno polls, saying she wanted to let its younger members lead and handpicked Noraini to be her successor back then.

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.

Umno is currently holding its internal party elections for all 191 divisions and 22,000 branches nationwide.

The party’s new office bearers will be elected from February 1 to March 18. However, the positions of president and deputy president will not be contested this time around.

In May last year, Umno amended its constitution to allow its party polls to be held within six months after the conclusion of the 15th general election.

The biggest Malay-based party had earlier postponed its party elections for 18 months after the 2018/2021 term ended on June 30, 2021.

Umno’s election for the 2021/2023 term was originally supposed to be held before December 30 last year prior to the postponement.