I’m focused on ministerial work, says Zuraida, evading questions on political future

PUTRAJAYA – Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin has once again played coy when peppered with questions on speculation that she will be quitting Bersatu to join another party before the anti-hopping law is tabled in Parliament.

In a press conference here today, the Ampang MP sidestepped questions posed by members of the press pertaining to the matter, saying she will put her ministerial duty above all else.

“As a member of Bersatu, I will concentrate on my (ministerial) work first, to complete my work.

“When the GE (general election) comes, then we will talk about elections,” she said briefly.

Speculation has been rife that Zuraida may ditch her current party this month for Malaysia’s newest political outfit Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).

In February, Zuraida was believed to have shared her plans with PBM’s supreme council members, according to a source quoted by FMT.

She was linked to PBM after a group of Bersatu members, who are mostly supporters of the three-term MP, joined the said party.

Zuraida, who was a PKR member prior to joining Bersatu in 2020 was reported in February this year to have been removed from the Bersatu supreme council members’ WhatsApp group.

However, speaking to The Vibes in an exclusive interview, she dismissed rumours of her leaving Bersatu, claiming that she is on good terms with its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Meanwhile, commenting on her party chief’s efforts to seek cooperation with non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parties ahead of the looming national polls, she said it is up to Muhyiddin to make such a decision.

“I am in no position to comment because the party president has said so,” she said.

“I guess it’s the same (for me) and I will follow… It’s the president of the party who makes the decision and direction.”

Earlier this month, Muhyiddin confirmed that he met with Pejuang chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, explaining that it was part of his efforts to seek cooperation with non-Barisan Nasional (BN) parties ahead of the upcoming 15th general election.

Muhyiddin said he took it upon himself to meet with political party leaders both in government and the opposition to discuss the possibility of political cooperation but stressed that it is still in the early stages and that no final decision has been made. – The Vibes, April 22, 2022