PKR Wanita chief Zuraida to relinquish post

With gradual handover to deputy, Zuraida Kamaruddin says decision not to defend post in next party polls has nothing to do with arrest of 'special officer', Adam Rosly.

PETALING JAYA: PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin will not be defending her post as Wanita chief in the coming party elections, saying she was ready to let her deputy Haniza Talha take over.

“I will not be defending my Wanita chief’s post. As Haniza is next in line, I have started giving some of my duties as Wanita chief to her.

“This is so that when the time comes, she will be well prepared,” Zuraida said during a press conference after officiating the 12th PKR Wanita Congress at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre here today.

She added she was unsure if there would be any other Wanita leader challenging Haniza for the Wanita chief’s post.

Asked about the next party elections, Zuraida said she did not know when it would be held.

“I am not sure. I have just handed over my duties to Haniza so that she gets to understand them and becomes familiar with the tasks at hand. She is capable,” she said.

Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, also denied her stepping down from the position of Wanita chief in the next party polls had anything to do with the arrest and legal action against Adam Rosly, by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recently.

Adam, who is Ampang PKR Youth chief, was last month charged for giving false statements to MACC after the anti-graft agency investigated him over his “unusual” wealth, following police reports filed by Sungai Besar Umno division chief Jamal Md Yunos, who claimed that Adam owned a bungalow and a number of luxury cars.

Adam denied any wrongdoing and said his wealth had come from business ventures and an inheritance. He claimed trial for charges under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act.

Both Zuraida and Adam have denied that the latter was a special officer to Zuraida. She was reported as saying that Adam was never formally appointed as her special officer.

“He is the Ampang PKR youth chief. So in that capacity, he carried out work for the constituency of which I am the MP.

“So the outsiders may perceive him as my special officer, but he was never specially appointed as one. FMT