SEPANG: Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has vowed to continue leading the wing in the face of the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) controversy involving her family.

The embattled leader, who returned to Malaysia Friday after performing the Umrah, said the brickbats thrown at her over the issue was Allah's way of testing her resilience as a leader.

"I would not be worth my salt as a minister and leader of 1.3 million members if I am weak and succumb to this type political theatre orchestrated by the Opposition," she said.

"All these attacks and the greed (kerakusan) of the Opposition that I have witnessed have only made me more determined to continue to lead Wanita Umno's charge into the next general election," she added.

On calls from her deputy Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim, who issued a press statement calling her a burden and asking her to take responsibility in the interest of the party, Shahrizat said: "I know where she is coming from."

She also declined to respond to criticism from her Wanita Umno predecessor Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.

"I have deep respect for her as the former Wanita Umno chief, but I am the chief now and my job is to make sure Wanita Umno is prepared and ready to face the next polls," Shahrizat said.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister, who has performed the Umrah thrice in the last two months, said she had sought solace in God.

She is currently on three weeks leave from her ministerial duties and expected to return to work on Wednesday in time for the weekly Cabinet meeting.

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