PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin should focus on replying to the show-cause letter issued to her instead of expressing concerns about the disciplinary board being influenced, said party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

“Rather than her prepossession (telling the disciplinary board to make a judgment without undue influence from party leadership), I recommend Zuraida to focus on the charges,” he said after a visit to NSK Trade City, Kuchai Lama, in conjunction with Chinese New Year 2020 today.

Saifuddin, who is the domestic trade and consumer affairs minister, said once a hearing date has been set by the disciplinary board, Zuraida should appear to give an explanation and allow the due process to take place.

“When the disciplinary board sets a date (for hearing), she should appear to give her explanation. Then, let the due process to take place.

“Needless to say, there are influences here and there.”

Zuraida was served with a show-cause letter on Friday and given 14 days to reply to it.

The housing and local government minister was absent from a meeting on Friday as she was in Sabah.

Though Saifuddin didn’t divulge the content of the letter, Zuraida said yesterday she was hauled up over a speech at the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 dinner on December 8, 2019 at Renaissance Hotel.

The dinner was organised by PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s supporters. 

Asked if other members, such as Azmin, were served with a show-cause letter, Saifuddin said he has no other information, adding that he was only asked to inform the media about the decision made by the disciplinary board. 

“What I informed the media two days ago is what was reported to PKR’s central leadership council by the disciplinary board chairman Ahmad Kassim. 

“As the secretary-general, I was told to convey the message to the media,” he said, adding that former PKR youth exco member Mohd Akmal Hisyam Ahmad Tamyiz, who was arrested along with Dengkil assemblyman Adhif Syan Abdullah from Bersatu, in a recent “drug-fuelled” party, was suspended. – January 20, 2020.