Puteri targets 500,000 members by year-end
z ARFA YUNUS KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my
PUTERI Umno aims to register half a million members by the end of the year and continue providing a platform for young women to play a role in nation-building.
Its chief, Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, said through the movement, young women were given the opportunity to contribute to the government, government-linked companies and the party.
Mas Ermieyati, who is also deputy tourism and culture minister, said young women had much to offer, adding that since its formation in 2001, Puteri Umno held the key in prepping future leaders in the country.
The New Straits Times met with her recently to speak about her hopes and aspirations for the movement and party.
Question: How do you plan to sign up 500,000 new members in less than seven months? Answer: We started about 16 years ago and we already have 400,000 members. To reach the half a million mark is not impossible.
We have made plans on how to attract young women to join us, especially graduates and professionals. We are women, too; we share and understand their dreams. We know what they want and we understand that it’s not easy to achieve our dreams, which is why Puteri Umno constantly holds programmes and training.
We are recognised by Barisan Nasional and given the trust by Umno to handle various ministerial posts since its formation. These opportunities gave us young women hope because we know if we work hard enough, we can achieve our dreams.
Look at our past Puteri chiefs. Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is now a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and she has previously held different ministerial posts. Datuk Noraini Ahmad became the first Malaysian to be elected as chairman of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians. Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin was a deputy health minister and she is now the deputy works minister. Q: How important is Puteri Umno’s role in making the party the strongest political organisation in the country?
A: Many members who are career professionals in Puteri Umno look forward to be given more involvement in politics in the hopes that the government can offer them the opportunity to grow and become future leaders.
Puteri Umno members always keep up and understand the current political situation to better serve young women through political knowledge enrichment.
Puteri Umno always champions issues to bridge the gap and optimise social and electronic media to spread good deeds.
Q: Umno has progressed after 71 years. How can Puteri Umno step up to the task of pushing the country to greater heights? A: We would like to be the force behind the government to ensure that young women are given equal opportunity in all aspects, especially in business and corporate sectors.
We will continuously recommend that at least 10 per cent of women below the age of 45 fill up posts in government-linked companies and government agencies.