Zuraida would know details of sacking if she attended meetings – PKR info chief

PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin would know the full details behind the sacking of Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian's former political secretary, Zakaria Abd Hamid, if she had attended party meetings, said PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil.

"I think if she had attended the weekly political bureau meetings and the central leadership council meeting yesterday, the full information was given to us, clear enough for action to be taken (against Zakaria).

"So I stress again for the leaders to always attend meetings and use this platform to discuss things, not issue statements in the media," he told reporters in the Parliament lobby today.

Fahmi also said Zakaria met with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim to make his representation over his sacking.

The party constitution, he said, allows those who have been sacked to appeal to the president to be reinstated as members.

"So the avenue is there within the party constitution for party leaders to come and discuss and find out for themselves," he added.

In a statement later, Zuraida said Fahmi's response was inadequate and proved that the latter is clueless about the issue she raised.

“The issue I raised is clear and simple. The sacking did not follow due process. Whether I attended meetings or otherwise is irrelevant to this issue.

“My attendance status should not jeopardise the principles of justice in the party,” she added

Earlier, Zuraida, who is also housing and local government minister, criticised the move to sack Zakaria over suspicion of corruption and bribery as "selective justice".

The party's disciplinary board chairperson Ahmad Kassim said the board made the decision after being advised by the MACC via a letter dated Oct 23, 2019.

Zakaria, who is also Bera division chief, was said to have offered contracts worth RM20,000 and allocations amounting to at least RM300,000 at a meeting with local leaders on Sept 1, around the time he was running for a seat in the PKR central leadership council.

Following the sacking, Zakaria told Malaysiakini that he was sacked from PKR without being given the chance to defend himself. - Mkini