Zuraida: Irrelevant ‘mosquito’ NGOs should hold their peace

PKR vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin has urged “irrelevant” NGOs to halt fueling factionalism within the party.

“It is now the time to keep calm, for both sides to keep calm.

“These "mosquito" NGOs like to fly around and bite people but it doesn’t matter. We will scratch any itches. These are irrelevant NGOs [...]

“For the sake of the interest of the nation, I think all these NGOs which are half-baked should stop fueling the fire,” she said when door stopped by the media this morning during an event at Taman Dagang, Ampang.

NGO Otai Reformis 1998 previously called for PKR to pressure for the Housing and Local Government minister to be dropped from the Cabinet.

They alleged that she had made insulting comments against PKR President Anwar Ibrahim and other party leaders.

Asked if she directed her advice at the veteran reformist group, Zuraida said yes.

“Whoever they are, they (Otai Reformis 1998) are one of them,” she said.

Take action after probes

During the eventful PKR Congress in Malacca last week, Zuraida along with other party leaders aligned to deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali decided to skip the last day of the event to hold a separate dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

During her speech at the dinner, she claimed that Anwar attempted to convince her that the police had determined Azmin’s involvement in the homosexual sex scandal which made the headlines earlier this year.

Zuraida had also accused party communications director Fahmi Fadzil and Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak of influencing Anwar.

Asked today if party leaders accused of sexual scandals ought to take a leave of absence pending investigations, Zuraida said there was no need.

“Let us allow these investigations to proceed. We can take action after we receive the results from these investigations,” she said.

Aside from Azmin, Anwar has now been accused of sexual misconduct by Muhammad Yusoff Rawther, who claims to be a former staff member of the party president.

Anwar has since urged members to refrain from making public statements on the party's internal conflicts, to which Zuraida agreed. - Mkini