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Raising Puteri Umno age limit risks stifling leadership growth, says analyst

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Syaza Shukri says efforts to strengthen the wing should focus on grooming future leaders by exposing them to leadership roles early on.

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Free Malaysia Today
On Sunday, Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin was quoted as saying that the party is considering raising the age limit for Puteri Umno members from 35 to 40.

PETALING JAYA:
A political analyst has warned that the proposal to raise the age limit for Puteri Umno members to 40 could hinder the rise of talented youth leaders, potentially stalling their political advancement.

Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) argued that strengthening the women’s youth wing, which was established 25 years ago, should focus on grooming future leaders by exposing them to leadership roles early on.

“If the age limit is raised, they may end up spending more time waiting (within Puteri Umno). The priority should be on training the next generation of leaders, rather than later claiming there are no qualified candidates,” she told FMT.

On Sunday, Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin was quoted as saying that the party is considering raising the age limit for Puteri members from 35 to 40.

However, former Puteri Umno chief Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin yesterday opposed the move, fearing it would stifle efforts to nurture young leaders.

Rosnah, who led the wing from 2009 to 2013, stressed that Puteri Umno needs more young leaders to secure the support of youth voters, especially since the voting age has been lowered to 18.

Puteri Umno was founded in 2000, with Azalina Othman Said as its first chief, followed by Noraini Ahmad, Rosnah, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Zahida Zarik Khan, and currently, Nurul Amal Fauzi.

Rising through the ranks

Meanwhile, IIUM’s Lau Zhe Wei believes raising the age limit could help produce more politically mature leaders within the Puteri wing before they transition to Wanita Umno.

According to Lau, many members join the Puteri wing in their early 20s or after completing their studies, leaving them with limited time to rise through the ranks.

“If they join Umno after graduation, then they may only have about 10 years to secure a leadership position, and sometimes, that’s not enough.

“Perhaps the proposal aims to extend their time in the wing, allowing them to gain leadership experience before moving to Wanita,” he said.

Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara also supported the proposal by Khaled, arguing that it could better prepare Puteri Umno members for leadership roles in Wanita Umno.

“At 35, when they transition to Wanita, they may not yet have the political maturity needed.

“In the Wanita Umno wing, political acumen is different. So, moving from the Puteri wing to the Wanita Umno wing at 40 would be more suitable, as they would be more prepared,” he said.

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