Umno Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today told her detractors not to be just armchair critics when commenting on the state of the women's wing under her leadership.

"I think it is important that we are not armchair critics. Come to the ground and talk to Wanita Umno as leaders and you will find out how strong and stable we are," she said when approached at the Federal Territories Mosque in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

NONE Shahrizat who attended a Quran-recital ceremony in Kuala Lumpur on her last day as women, family and community development minister, was responding to former Umno Wanita chief Rafidah Aziz ( right ), who had expressed concern over the state of the party's women's wing.

"Don't talk from Kuala Lumpur, just go to the ground and visit the (Umno Wanita) branches and talk to the women, you will know their spirits are high," she said.

Shahrizat also extended an invitation to all her critics to go to the grassroots with her to prove that Umno Wanita was in tip-top shape.

The embattled Umno wanita chief has faced calls from within her own party, including Rafidah and deputy Umno Wanita chief Kamilia Ibrahim, to step down despite having agreed to relinquish her ministerial post following her family’s involvement in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal.

‘No need to burn bra’

However, Shahrizat, who described Kamilia as being like a sister, said regardless of her critics, the Umno Wanita direction would ultimately be decided by herself.

“I understand because when I was in dire straits some people would take advantage, but that’s normal in politics.

“But it depends on what I do because I am the chief, as far as Kamilia or anybody (is concerned), I am not confrontational by nature but I am firm and I know where I want to bring Umno Wanita because I am the chief,” she said.

Shahrizat at FT mosque event Not being confrontational, Shahrizat ( second from right ) added, does not mean that she is weak.

“We don’t have to scream or shout or be rude or insulting to send our message across, it is not necessary.

“We can do many things, like in the ministry, we were able to achieve many things without having to burn our bras or causing friction with anybody, that’s my style,” she added to bemused journalists.

Despite her detractors, Shahrizat said that the massive Umno Wanita show of force last month was a “loud and clear signal” that the wing’s unity would prevail.

Shahrizat attributed her departure as a minister to “many factors”. This comes after her family was accused of misappropriating part of a RM250 million government soft loan intended for the country’s beef valley.