Three-term Ampang MP Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin insists she will represent Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) in the upcoming general election in Malaysia, despite a brewing saga involving her position in the party.
Asked if she is the president of PBM, Zuraida, 64, said: “Yeah, but never mind, I don’t want to elaborate.
“My position stays as what I am.”
Zuraida spoke to Twentytwo13 after her Deepavali programme in Bandar Baru Ampang, Selangor, last night. Zuraida was referred to as Ibu Bangsa Malaysia during the event.
She insisted she was the only woman leading a political party and would address the matter in a press conference this evening.
On Friday night, 13 PBM members, including Zuraida, were suspended for alleged indiscipline by Larry Sng, who claimed he was the legitimate PBM president.
Earlier this month, there were claims that the party’s Supreme Council had agreed for Zuraida to replace Sng as president.
When asked if she would defend her Ampang parliamentary seat as an independent candidate should the saga escalate, Zuraida replied: “No, not at all.”
Pressed why she said no, Zuraida added: “I have my reasons (and I will represent PBM). Insyallah.”
Zuraida was also bullish about her chances in Ampang.
Despite being with a new party, the former PKR vice-president doesn’t feel she is starting from scratch.
“I’ve served Ampang for almost 15 years. Before this, (I was involved with) reformasi (movement), activism, and humanitarian missions. It is not something new. It’s nothing strange or unfamiliar, it’s ongoing.
“I’ll stand on a different platform (but) it’s the same. Whatever you are, wherever you are, you have to deliver your best. During my reformasi days with the old party, I gave my best.
“During my days in government with (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad’s) regime, I did my best. It was the same with (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin) and (Datuk Seri) Ismail Sabri (Yaakob).
“You must deliver your best so you won’t have regrets.
“I believe I have (a) fighting chance to win GE15. We did some of our research. I’m a research-based person … I always base my strategy and marketing via my statistics, research process, and methodology.”
Having served Ampang for three terms, Zuraida said: “We have their (people’s) records. We know they are our fixed deposits, one way or the other.”
She admitted there was more work to be done in Ampang, especially concerning waste management and reaching out to foreigners to ensure they adapted to the Malaysian way of life.
Acknowledging that Malaysians were bracing for a hung parliament, Zuraida added that she would support the government of the day.
Sng had last Thursday claimed that Barisan Nasional (BN) had rejected its request to join the coalition.
However, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khalid Nordin was quoted yesterday, saying that BN had yet to decide PBM’s fate.
BN Ampang, had in August, put up a large poster of Zuraida with an ‘X’ marked in red paint on her face at the Umno Ampang headquarters, signalling that they wouldn’t work with her.
The poster has since been brought down.
Zuraida said such antics and drama by the grassroots are “quite common among old parties” and that it didn’t matter to her.
PKR’s Batu Tiga assemblyman Rodziah Ismail is among the candidates set to slug it out with Zuraida in Ampang.
Zuraida seemed unperturbed by the battle with Rodziah.
“I’m about 70 per cent above (PKR) … 15 years of work compared to no years of work. I think I’m quite kind to give (PKR) 70 per cent (laughs).”
