I’ve no intention of rejoining PKR, says Zuraida

 The former PKR vice-president says she has no plans to respond to Anwar Ibrahim’s call for party veterans to return.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was among 11 MPs who left PKR in February 2020 before joining Bersatu during the Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the PH government later that year.

PETALING JAYA:

Zuraida Kamaruddin says she has no intention of rejoining PKR despite president Anwar Ibrahim’s call for party veterans to return to the fold.

The former PKR vice-president said she is currently focussed on a campaign, entitled “Jelajah Payung Besar” (Big Umbrella Tour), with various NGOs to encourage more Malays to vote in the next general election.

“I do not plan to respond to Anwar’s call for the time being,” she told FMT.

Zuraida said the campaign would focus on explaining issues regarding Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, claiming the article’s legitimacy had been jeopardised by the interference of non-Malay leaders in government.

Article 153 provides for Malays and natives of East Malaysia to have access to “such proportion” of positions in the public service, scholarships, as well as permits and licences to operate any trade or business, as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong may deem reasonable.

It was previously reported that former Bandar Tun Razak MP Kamarudin Jaffar and former Nibong Tebal MP Mansor Othman were considering returning to PKR.

Zuraida, Kamarudin and Mansor were among 11 MPs who left PKR with Azmin Ali in February 2020 before joining Bersatu during the Sheraton Move, which led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government later that year.

PKR later sued Zuraida, claiming that she had breached the terms of a contractual bond signed before the 2018 general election by leaving the party to join Bersatu.

The terms of the bond required Zuraida to pay PKR RM10 million within seven days if she resigned from the party to join another political party or became an independent MP.

On June 23, 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ruled in PKR’s favour and entered judgment for RM10 million, holding that Zuraida had breached the terms of the bond.

On Dec 11, 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed Zuraida’s appeal against liability but reduced the quantum, ruling that the RM10 million sum was “unreasonable” and awarded PKR RM100,000 instead. - FMT