KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s sacking from Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) marks the end of a miserable year for the former cabinet member, who enters the new year without a party for the first time in her political career.
Having joined PKR as one of its earliest members in 1999, Zuraida rose through the ranks in the party, culminating in her election as vice-president in 2018 as well as serving as Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) women chief at the time.
It was also under PKR that she made her electoral debut, contesting and winning the Ampang parliamentary constituency for three consecutive terms from 2008.
However, political factionalism led her and several other leaders aligned to Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to leave the reformist party in February 2020, joining Bersatu to form the new government then. She was later appointed as a supreme council member.
But it was not until this year that her political life slid downhill.
On May 9, after a falling out with the top leadership, she was issued a show-cause letter by Bersatu for participating in several PBM activities, with her loyalty in question.
Later that month, she announced her decision to quit Bersatu, with the party immediately removing her from the supreme council.
Her decision to switch for PBM’s purple however did not pay off, as she went on to lose her Ampang stronghold together with her deposit during the 15th general election, amid ongoing infighting with party president Larry Sng.
Zuraida’s fate in PBM finally came to a bitter end after she was given the boot from the party she was initially supposed to assume control of as the new president, effectively putting her out of a job.
With 2023 just a couple of days away, The Vibes takes a look at Zuraida’s next possible destinations, as she looks to reignite a withering political career.
Most likely
With a staggering number of supporters on her side in PBM, made up largely of members of her non-governmental organisation Penggerak Komuniti Negara, Zuraida can count on these individuals to prop up her career.
Banking on her supporters, two likely scenarios can pan out in Zuraida’s favour – the first being to persuade them to join her and set up a new party from scratch, the same way she influenced the formation of PBM.
This would also allow her to assume the position of president she was after in her former party and give her formidable power to set the political direction of the outfit as she wishes.
Another likelihood is that Zuraida might go on to be an active member of the Tan Sri Annuar Musa-led Muafakat Nasional (MN), which she joined just two weeks ago as a bid to rejoin mainstream politics.
While MN remains an NGO at the moment, there is a high possibility it might rebrand itself as a full-fledged political party moving forward, particularly if it is able to attract the tens of thousands of Zuraida’s supporters currently with PBM.
This option is particularly enticing for Zuraida, who will then be able to play a leading role with Annuar, a former Umno stalwart and veteran player in the political arena.
Possible
Zuraida could also potentially look at joining other existing political parties she has never been a part of to revive her career.
Although a number of entities are available, including the likes of Warisan and Pejuang, Gerakan appears to stand out as the most likely destination – if she decides to explore this route.
The party led by Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai is known to be close allies with Azmin and Zuraida’s faction when they were in PKR, and had previously during PKR’s internal crisis said he would welcome them if they decide to join.
Another alternative Zuraida might consider is rejoining PBM.
This can be done via two possible methods – one by filing an appeal, and the other by getting her remaining supporters in the party to press for a motion of no confidence against Sng and later reinstate her membership.
Whether this is worth the hassle compared with forming a new party or linking up with other existing ones remains a question.
Least likely
Unless there is a major change of heart from those within her former parties PKR and Bersatu, it is all but certain that Zuraida will not rejoin these outfits, even if she expresses any such desire.
This is especially looking at the manner in which she previously quit the parties.
PKR and Bersatu would also certainly be put off by the political baggage she carries, with her recent propensity for party hopping.
Zuraida could also look at the option of calling it a day in politics, heeding the advice of PBM president Sng, who earlier this week said she should consider retiring, looking at her recent poor electoral performance.
But considering her political ambition and rather young age (by politicians’ standards) of 64, this is most unlikely to happen.
Whatever decision Zuraida makes pertaining to her future, Malaysians can almost certainly expect to see her continue featuring prominently in the local political landscape. – The Vibes, December 29, 2022
