Rina Harun drops out of Wanita Bersatu race

The vice-chief of the women’s wing, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, is expected to succeed her.

(FMT) – Wanita Bersatu chief Rina Harun has decided against defending her post in the party elections next month.

A well-placed source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the former federal minister withdrew her candidacy last week.

“The matter (Rina’s candidacy) will be made official on Friday when the list of candidates for the party elections is revealed,” the source told FMT.

The source also said the wing’s vice-chief, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, was expected to take over the post.

Asked why Rina, a former Titiwangsa MP, had withdrawn her candidacy, the source said: “Mas Ermieyati is too strong now.”

FMT has reached out to Rina for comments.

Rina, who was appointed to the post in 2017, was returned unopposed as the chief of the women’s wing, known as Srikandi, in 2020.

The former women, family and community development minister lost in the Selangor state election last year when she vied for the Batu Tiga seat.

The defeat was her second consecutive loss after she failed to win the Sepang parliamentary seat in the 15th general election.

Rina quit Umno in 2016 to join Bersatu.