KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 5): Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil has criticised her former boss Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, saying she had been trapped in the games played by the opposition.

Shahrizat said she was surprised to read Rafidah's Facebook post commenting on the party leadership and the recently concluded political revolt in Kedah.

She added that during Rafidah's 22-year tenure as women's chief of the ruling party, the former minister had constantly reminded them about discipline and loyalty, especially to the party president.

"But she appears to have compromised her principles lately, when she openly criticised the Umno president and made so many presumptions on the issues faced by the party and the country's leadership."

However, she said Wanita Umno still held on to the principles of loyalty and supported the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as party president and prime minister, as he was genuinely concerned about the party's struggles and the well-being of Malaysians at a time when the world was faced with many challenges.

Rafidah, a former international trade and industry minister, said yesterday that Umno's political putsch to replace the Kedah menteri besar was a reflection of current political culture of "toppling one another".

She also questioned if "toppling others to grab whatever position being eyed" had become the norm, after Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir Mahathir was ousted by Kedah Umno leaders.

She said such a culture had divided people, rather than promoted unity and common good.