ZURAIDA Kamaruddin’s ministerial post must be filled by someone who is a loyal party member and has never party-hopped, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today.

“There are many MPs who are loyal to the party and do not jump party. They should be considered to fill the ministerial post held by Zuraida,” he said in a statement posted on Facebook.

“The prime minister (Ismail Sabri Yaakob) must take this matter seriously and not compromise with individuals who party jump and yet remain as ministers,” he said.

The Bagan Datuk MP said Zuraida’s decision only reinforces the need for an anti-party hopping law.

Failing which, he said, the people’s confidence in the democratic process and political parties will be further eroded.

“This action (party-hopping) has eroded the people’s trust in elected representatives and political parties. It’s like their votes are being toyed with,” he said.

“It is not impossible that without the urgent tabling of the anti-party hopping bill, the crisis of confidence in the democratic system and political institution will lead to even fewer people turning up to vote come the next general election.”

Zahid was commenting on Zuraida’s announcement today that she has joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and will soon be resigning as the plantation industries and commodities minister.

In a statement this morning, Zuraida said she believes in the struggles of PBM and is attracted by its core principles of multiracial engagement, women and youth empowerment, economic development, education and the advancement of science and technology to make Malaysia a developed nation.

Zuraida has been the MP for Ampang for 14 years.

In 2018, while in PKR, she was appointed housing and local government minister.

She then defected to Bersatu, a move that caused the ouster of the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020. 

She was again appointed minister in the subsequent Perikatan Nasional government, a role she retained after Muhyiddin Yassin was replaced by Ismail last August.

Before today’s announcement, speculation had been rife that she would leave Bersatu for PBM, fuelling calls for the former to sack her. – May 26, 2022.