‘Zuraida wanted a multiracial party, Bersatu couldn’t offer that’

KUALA LUMPUR – Her desire to be part of a multiracial nationalist party might have been the key motivation behind Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s decision to quit Bersatu for Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM). 

This was revealed by Bersatu supreme council member Datuk Eddin Syazlee Shith, who said there had been differences in ideology during Zuraida’s short stint with the political outfit. 

Speaking to The Vibes, the deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department also rubbished suggestions that Zuraida’s departure had to do with a falling out with some of the party’s top leaders. 

“It’s not like she was against the president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and the others. She just happened to have her own ideology that we couldn’t accept,” he told The Vibes today. 

“Zuraida has lamented in the past about how the non-Malays are more suited to be in other parties that are nationalist in nature, like PKR. Bersatu, on the other hand, is a Malay party. 

“The Malay agenda is our priority, although at the same time we do take care of our non-Malay associate members. But Zuraida wanted us to open up full membership to the non-Malays.”

Earlier today, Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, made a surprise announcement that she had joined the fledgling PBM and relinquished her position as plantation industries and commodities minister.

She cited her decision was based on, among others, PBM’s core principles of multiracialism, women and youth empowerment, and its focus on economic development, education and the advancement of science and technology. 

Zuraida was one of the 11 MPs led by Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali to quit PKR during the infamous Sheraton Move in February 2020 that led to the collapse of the then Pakatan Harapan government. 

The lawmakers officially became members of Bersatu in August the same year, with the party also announcing its decision to set up an associate wing to accommodate the non-Malay PKR defectors. 

Up to president to decide ministerial post

Eddin, who is Kuala Pilah MP, commended Zuraida for taking the honourable action of quitting the party rather than causing a commotion in Bersatu, as well as her decision to give up her ministerial portfolio. 

He said since she was appointed a minister under her capacity as a Bersatu member, it was only right that this position be returned to the party. 

“This does not only apply to Zuraida, but all Bersatu ministers. Any decision (on ministerial appointments) must be based on the quota that has been agreed by all government parties. I think what she did was a very ‘gentlemanly’ thing. 

“Regardless, we will leave it up to the president to decide who should replace her. But at the moment, this matter has not been discussed in Bersatu supreme council meeting yet.”

Bersatu information chief Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan similarly said Muhyiddin, as the president of Bersatu and chairman of Perikatan Nasional, will nominate a candidate to replace Zuraida in the cabinet. 

In a statement, he said Zuraida’s decision to quit was expected, saying her position had been previously deliberated at the party level, following her “recent actions”. 

While not going into details, he said Bersatu’s political bureau had also “made a decision” on her position in the party. 

He added that a show-cause letter was issued to her previously, supposedly for disciplinary issues. 

“In a time when the country is talking about the importance of political stability, Zuraida seems to act based on her own accord.” – The Vibes, May 26, 2022