PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today said Zuraida Kamaruddin’s position as a minister will be decided when he meets her.

He said that the plantation industries and commodities minister will explain her decision to resign when they meet.

“I understand that she is still on leave. So I still haven’t met her yet),” Ismail said at the Barisan Nasional convention at World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

“She said she will explain and discuss with me (her resignation) before I make any decision.

“She has not come to see me yet. Once we have had a discussion, then I will decide (on her position).” 

Ismail also dismissed talk that Zuraida’s decision to resign was because of a possible cabinet reshuffle.

“We will have to wait and see. She has only resigned from Bersatu. She has yet to resign from the cabinet. Her party is different, the cabinet is different,” he said.

“She didn’t discuss leaving Bersatu. But as for her position in the cabinet, she has to discuss with me.”

On May 26, the Ampang MP announced that she was leaving Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and was ready to step down as plantation industries and commodities minister.

She said she would be meeting Ismail “soonest to discuss my resignation”, adding that she and PBM would continue to support the government of the day.

Since her announcement, Umno has asked the prime minister not to keep her in the cabinet and instead give the portfolio to the party.

Bersatu, on the other hand, said it will be nominating a new candidate to take over Zuraida’s position. – June 1, 2022.