No longer PPBM women’s wing chief, Anina says in the dark
(MMO) – Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) leader Anina Saadudin denied today she has received any official letter on her removal as the head of the party’s women’s wing Srikandi.
Despite that, the politician said the struggle is ultimately not about her, after PPBM confirmed today that she no longer holds that position after announcing her appointment just two months ago.
“I have not received any formal letter from the party leadership regarding the matter,” she told Malay Mail Online when contacted.
Anina stressed that the fate of Malaysians and their own struggle is more important than her position as an individual.
“This fight is not about me, but this is about 31 million Malaysians and the future of their children,” she said.
“I am a marhaen, and I will die as a marhaen fighter,” she added, using the Malay word that means “commoners”.
PPBM information chief Datuk Kamarudin Md Nor told Malay Mail Online earlier today that the party has never officially appointed her to the post, therefore she was not “sacked” as claim.
Amid uproar among grassroots and Srikandi members over rumours of Anina’s exit, Kamarudin clarified that Anina remains a member of PPBM’s supreme leadership council and that a Srikandi chief will be appointed “in due course”.
On November 2, the party had named Anina as the chairman of the Srikandi wing, in the same ceremony where PPBM announced its supreme leadership council members.
Besides vice-president Datuk Hamidah Osman and Anina, there are only three other women in the 30-strong council: Part-time lecturer Hazlinda Abd Latiff, businesswoman Najwah Halimah Ab Halim and public speaker Ulya Awamah Husamudin.
Anina was a Langkawi Wanita Umno member before she was sacked from the ruling party in September last year after entering spotlight for her vocal criticism and lawsuit against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Roughly a year later, Anina withdrew her lawsuit against Umno president Najib to demand the return of a portion of a RM2.6 billion amount to the party, and announced that she is joining PPBM.
