AMPANG – When she joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) in May this year, Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin felt compelled to look for a sobriquet that represents both her and her party, one that would connect with the rakyat.
It did not take her long to settle on one – “Ibu Bangsa Malaysia” (Mother of Malaysians). It is a moniker she relishes and believes is an embodiment of who she is, the former PKR and Bersatu leader said in an exclusive interview with The Vibes.
“I think Malaysia needs a motherly figure, to bring everyone together (through) the mothering concept and the agenda of Bangsa Malaysia.”
Zuraida opened up on her motivation to set up a new party, her dreams for the political outfit and young leaders, and her service for almost 15 years in Ampang.
The term “Ibu Bangsa Malaysia” grabbed headlines in June when her supporters, welcoming her return from an overseas work trip at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, had shouted the slogan and carried banners bearing the name.
It was also then that she infamously sang a rendition of the evergreen number Que Sera Sera that went viral, just days after she announced she had quit Bersatu to join PBM.
Elaborating on her moniker, Zuraida, who is PBM’s president-designate, drew a comparison between her role as a leader, with ordinary mothers whom she said would always treat every one of their children fairly and equally.
“It doesn’t matter if they are boys or girls, all are treated the same, and mothers normally treat them fairly, because they know every child deserves these sorts of things (sic).
“That is the motherly concept I want to bring about, and that’s how I run the party as well. That’s why they call me Ibu Bangsa Malaysia.”
Asked if she sees herself embodying this term, Zuraida said: “That’s right, yes. It’s only that maybe people don’t see it. I also don’t feel that way, yet, but that’s what they (supporters) want me to be recognised as, to lead them as a motherly figure.”
‘I’m a caring MP, did a good job in Ampang’
Commenting specifically on her service in Ampang, Zuraida said her track record in the constituency in the last three terms speaks for itself.
“I’ve been an MP here for close to 15 years, and I’ve done quite a good job. I gave a lot of my allocation to my constituents. When I was in the opposition for 10 years, I didn’t have government funding, yet I managed to solve problems.
“I can say I’m a very caring MP.”
Zuraida made her electoral debut when she contested and won in Ampang under the PKR ticket in 2008, going on to defend her seat in the 2013 and 2018 general elections, with an improved majority in each time.
For the first time, she will now look to defend Ampang under a new party banner, and faces a nine-cornered fight, which includes her former party colleague Rodziah Ismail.
Zuraida said her decision to set up PBM came after members of her NGO known as Penggerak Komuniti Negara (PKN) found it difficult to rise through the ranks in Bersatu after they joined the Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin-led outfit in August 2020 en masse.
Bersatu was at that time already fully structured as a political party, she said, adding that her people were not able to find a “home” there.
“So I said, let’s form a new party. I’m thinking about these young people. They are very capable.”
She said while she wanted to launch the party in December 2021, then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob advised her against doing so, to not destabilise the government as Bersatu would pressure her to give up her ministerial post.
While more than 50,000 PKN members joined PBM at the time, Zuraida only applied to be a member in May this year, after promising grassroots that she would do so.
On how her party will be in the next decade, and whether it will play a significant role in the country’s political landscape, Zuraida said her ultimate goal is to uplift the younger leaders.
“This election is too short of a time for a big splash. That’s why we stuck with our incumbents to contest. After this election, we’ll have five years to groom the young leaders to take up leadership roles and subsequently become election candidates.” – The Vibes, November 12, 2022
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