She cuts a tiny figure but 72-year-old Jaliah Ahmad Mahir is not afraid to air her unhappiness against PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin.
The Kuala Kangsar PKR women's chief was among a group of some 200 people gathered outside the party's headquarters to await Zuraida's arrival, as she was initially expected to personally submit her response to a show-cause letter from PKR's disciplinary board.
Jaliah (above) appeared to be in high spirits as she declared that the rain would not stop her from speaking out and call for Zuraida to be sacked.
Since around noon, the group - some of whom came in buses seen parked around the PKR headquarters - kept up their chants and taunts, labelling Zuraida a "traitor" to the party.
While Jaliah was introduced as a party veteran, there were others present today - mostly in plain clothes - who appeared to be less than sure about their reasons of being there.
Some of them who spoke to Malaysiakini claimed they only came to observe the goings-on today, while several others said they were just following friends from the party.
A smaller group of Zuraida's supporters later arrived together with her political secretary Noor Hizwan Ahmad at around 12.30pm.
About a dozen police officers from Petaling Jaya kept both groups apart and only allowed Noor Hizwan and three others to submit Zuraida’s response to the party’s show-cause letter issued to her on Jan 18.
Addressing reporters after submitting the response, Noor Hizwan said he viewed the gatherings today as being a part of the democratic process.
"I see maturity with those who support Zuraida, and those on the other side trying to be naughty," he said.
The group who opposed Zuraida claimed to also represent NGO Gerakan Reformis Keadilan (Gerak) and their spokesperson, Zainurrizzaman Mohaman, later told reporters that a police report, as well as a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, will be lodged against the housing and local government minister for alleged abuses of public funds.
In an immediate response, PKR women's wing information chief Shahrul Ema Rena Abdul Samah rebutted Zainurrizzaman, and in a text message pointed out that he had stood as a PSM candidate in Sungai Buloh in the last 14th general elections.
Meanwhile, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim in a statement called on both groups to disperse.
"Any act to support or oppose Zuraida's sacking at any other locations will not in any way influence the disciplinary board that must decide in an independent manner.
"The disciplinary board will be instructed to monitor the action of any members who go against that order (to try and influence their decision)," said Anwar.
Both groups outside the PKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur had dispersed shortly before 2pm today while similar gatherings of Zuraida's supporters were reportedly held at several other locations across the country including Penang. - Mkini
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