Having served the Ampang federal constituency since 2008 under the PKR banner, Zuraida Kamaruddin has offered to defend her seat again in the 15th general election, this time contesting under Bersatu.
She's ready to do so if her new party gives her the greenlight to contest in Ampang.
The former PKR vice-president with 10 other PKR MPs, notably former party deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali, defected from PKR in February this year.
The move, along with Bersatu led by its president Muhyiddin Yassin, had led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.
They joined an alliance with the then opposition, including Umno and PAS, to form the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
Aware that she's being targeted by political foes for her defection to Bersatu, Zuraida stressed that it did not deter her spirit.
"The more (I'm) being targeted, the more (determined) for me to defend this seat.
"God-willing, if the party allows it, I offer myself once again to contest in Ampang to retain this seat, and it's up to Bersatu and PN leadership (to decide)," she told Malaysiakini in a media conference at Ampang.
Zuraida, who is the minister of housing and local government, added that her machinery is ready for the upcoming general election.
In the 14th general election, she won a landslide victory in her stronghold after defeating MCA's Leong Kim Soon by a majority of 41,956.
For the record, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said that the general election would be held once the Covid-19 pandemic is over.
Earlier, Zuraida handed-over some files containing 8,000 applications to join Bersatu to Selangor Bersatu chairperson Abdul Rashid Asari.
Asked about the new members, Zuraida said that all of them are former PKR members.
The handing-over was witnessed by members of NGO Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN) who had helped in getting new members.
According to Rashid, Selangor Bersatu has about 55,000 members as of October 2018, and total membership is believed to have increased to 70,000 to date.
"We hope before the general election, we can get up to 200,000 members in Selangor," he said.
Asked if the number is possible to achieve in a short time, Rashid noted that his aim is possible, thanks to PKN.
"PKN has shown its sincerity and honesty to be together with us (Bersatu), we will continue to see the integration process.
On the other hand, Zuraida said that the numbers are ready because they are mostly from PKN, but more time is needed to complete and collect the forms.
Asked if there would be an objection by Ampang Umno to contest in the constituency, Zuraida appeared confident that there would be no such hurdle.
"Umno is also part of PN," she said with a chuckle. - Mkini
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