Ex-law minister Zaid set to join DAP, sources say

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim looks set to make a return to active politics, for the third time since quitting Umno.

Though the former Kota Bharu lawmaker is keeping his cards close to his chest, sources claimed he would be joining DAP.

Zaid is expected to make the announcement next Tuesday at an event in Petaling Jaya which would also feature former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

However, Zaid declined to confirm the matter.

"I will answer your questions on Tuesday," he told Malaysiakini when contacted.

However, DAP sources told Malaysiakini that the party had already accepted Zaid into the party.

DAP is said to be banking on Zaid's high-profile image to dilute accusations that the party was too Chinese-centric.

It is understood that DAP intends to field the 66-year-old former Umno legal adviser at the coming general election.

Zaid joined then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's cabinet in March 2008 but resigned six months later in protest of the arrests of Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, journalist Tan Hoon Cheng and blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin under the Internal Security Act 1960.

In June 2009, Zaid joined PKR and contested the Hulu Selangor by-election in 2010 which saw him narrowly defeated by BN's P Kamalanathan.

Later that year, he ran for PKR deputy presidency but pulled out midway, citing fraud, and quit the party.

In December 2010, he formed Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita). However, he stepped down as Kita leader two years later and since then, had not been actively involved in party politics.- Mkini