KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin will appeal the high court’s decision for her to pay an RM10 million fine to PKR for party-hopping.
The former PKR vice-president told Berita Harian that she would appeal on the grounds that the court’s decision violated her freedom of association.
“It goes against the basic principles of democracy. There is no justification for the RM10 million demand,” Berita Harian quoted her as saying.
Last Friday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered Zuraida to pay the sum to PKR for breach of contract when the former Ampang MP quit the party to join Bersatu in the Sheraton Move in 2020.
The suit against her was filed by PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on behalf of the party and had invoked Section 71 of the Contracts Act 1950 to establish its right to recover compensation from the benefits Zuraida enjoyed as Ampang MP as well as a minister. Zuraida had been plantation industries and commodities minister.
Zuraida, who lost the Ampang seat to PKR in the general election last November, is currently without a party after quitting Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
However, in December, she, along with 10 other PBM members, were sacked following a leadership tussle with incumbent president Datuk Larry Sng. – The Vibes, June 25, 2023
