Kalabakan wanita team resign en mass

(Bernama) – All but one of the 15 newly elected committee members of the Kalabakan Wanita Umno Division have resigned citing irregularities in the election held last Saturday.

This was disclosed by Suriyani Lamai who spoke on behalf of the 14 committee members at a news conference attended by all of them.

“We decided to resign en masse because we are not satisfied,” she said.

The 13 other committee members are Masnah Lama, Hindun Abu Bakar Titingan, Salmah Maidin, Astika Tahir, Nurida Abu Bakar, Zainab alias Jainab Ali, Shaniah Sampar, Norizan Omar, Juo Amin, Fatimah Abdullah, Sofiah Daud, Asiah Indobeche and Muliati Engkeng.

Former Kalabakan Wanita Umno chief Hamisa Samat (pic), who also attended the news conference, said the division had sent a letter to the Umno headquarters protesting about the election process.

“We hope the Umno Elections Committee will make a decision soon, if possible before Oct 19, and call for fresh elections,” she said.

Hamisa, who lost to Cahaya Sulaiman by 33 votes for the post of Wanita Umno head, had garnered 384 votes to Cahaya’s 417 votes. Ten votes were spoilt.

The Kalabakan Wanita Umno had 825 delegates but only 764 had turned up for the meeting last Saturday, she said.

“I wonder where the 47 additional votes came from. Several of the delegates had even gone back and did not vote,” she claimed.

Hamisa said there was external interference in the election process and claimed that unauthorised people, and even men, had entered the voting venue.

“This should not have happened,” she said.