Police investigate PKR's Zuraida for revealing citizenship-for-votes scam

PKR MP for Ampang Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was among the first opposition leader to expose an Umno citizenship-for-votes scam in Selangor is being investigated by the polce.

According to her personal assistant, she has been summoned by the police and will speak to reporters at the Premiere Hotel in Bandar Bukit Tinggi, Klang at 11am on Friday.

Zuraida, who is also the Women's chief, had in May revealed a letter purportedly issued by the Umno Hulu Selangor division, wherein it requested the Home Ministry to grant citizenships to 2,000 foreign workers in exchange for their votes in the coming 13th general election.

The letter, dated March 23, was signed by division chief Mohamed Idris Abu Bakar and was addressed to Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, who is also the Umno vice-president.

"It is with pleasure that we inform you that we have identified and verified a list of individuals who are potential voters who can help the BN win in Hulu Selangor in the 13th general election,” said the letter.

"They are students, entrepreneurs and the gainfully employed, all of whom are expected to contribute to the development of the country while also assisting the BN to win in the election, especially the 13th general election. As such, we hope that you can grant early approval so we can process the applications smoothly."

Umno men escape unscathed

Since then Umno has denied writing the letter. And while Zuraida has lodged several police reports including against Mohamed Idris and Hisham, there has not been any news about any probe launched against the two men.

"So ironical that the only one hauled up in the end is Zuraida," said one of her aides.

In the past few days, Umno has spun itself into a tizzy trying to regain the upperhand over the Malay community, where its credibility has been eroding slowly but surely.

Earlier this month, it tried to stop PAS and PKR Muslim leaders from preaching or giving talks at religious halls and mosques. On Thursday, law professor Aziz Bari was suspended from his duties by the International Islamic Universiti in a move that was seen as being instructed by Umno.

Pundits fear that the latest series of incidents may signal the start of an Umno crackdown on influential Malay citizens and personalities as the party fights to block a wave of reform sentiment from spreading across the community, which is their core electorate.

Malaysia Chronicle