UMNO Assembly: Women, Youth And Puteri Chiefs Focus On GE16 Preparations

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Preparations for the 16th General Election (GE16) are among the main focuses of the policy speeches delivered by the Women’s, Youth and Puteri (Young Women’s) wings at the UMNO General Assembly here today.

They touched on various aspects, including candidate selection, strengthening the party machinery, strategising to engage young voters, and formulating policies that are fresher and more relevant to current needs.

Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said that 30 per cent female representation in leadership must start within the party itself as a strategic step to elevate the role of women.

Noraini, who is also the Minister of Plantation and Commodities, said UMNO should set a minimum 30 per cent target in a phased, structured manner, enshrined in the party constitution, and establish a timeline for implementing policies that recognise women’s roles as movers of society.

In addition, Noraini said UMNO should take the lead in drafting a Political Financing Act to ensure transparency and integrity in the country’s democratic system, with all contributions recorded and disclosed openly to prevent slander and false accusations.

To ensure the party’s continuity, she said the party machinery must master both “heartware” (empathy and human touch) and “hardware” (technological proficiency) to win the people’s hearts and restore confidence in the party ahead of GE16.

“Politics today is a battle of perception, emotion, data and speed of information. A new approach needs to be developed. UMNO women must be prepared with these two complementary strengths (heartware and hardware),” she said.

Sharing Noraini's sentiment, Puteri UMNO chief Datuk Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi said the oft-stated target of 30 per cent female participation in politics and administration has yet to be fully reflected in the party’s internal structure.

“This is the era of young people, and opportunities must be equally available. However, if the party is still hesitant to give space to young female candidates, then we are actually straying from UMNO’s own progressive tradition,” she said.

She added that women still face major challenges in the workplace, including unequal pay, slow promotion opportunities, unequal distribution of tasks, and sexual harassment, making women’s leadership crucial to open the way for fair opportunities, enabling women to grow and drive meaningful change.

UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh urged the party to immediately address the trust crisis at the grassroots level in preparation for GE16.

He said constructive action must be taken, noting that the number of seats won by the party had dropped in the last two general elections.

“We need to urgently restore the people’s trust in UMNO. We are facing a trust crisis among the rakyat, a fact that cannot be hidden. We cannot feel secure just because we have ministers and positions in the administration,” he said.

Dr Muhamad Akmal also stated that UMNO Youth will continue to act as an “emergency bell”, offering feedback and comment on every decision and action to ensure UMNO remains on track in defending religion, race and the nation.

-- BERNAMA