AHEAD of a meeting with the prime minister after she switched parties, Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has expressed hope she would be retained in the cabinet.

She said this would ensure continuity in the programmes planned by the ministry.

“As we know, I am meeting the prime minister next week. I hope there will be good news because that makes it easier for me to complete the programmes and plans laid out, apart from helping to stabilise the country and cabinet,” she said.

She told reporters this after launching a programme on Enhancing Empowerment of Women at the Grassroots Level in Sungai Siput today.

Last month, Zuraida quit Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) and said she would be meeting Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss her position in the cabinet.

On Thursday, Ismail said he would be meeting Zuraida next week to discuss her ministerial post.

Meanwhile, Zuraida, who has been named PBM president-designate, said the party would be looking for suitable seats to contest in Perak in the 15th general election.

The Ampang lawmaker said electoral contests in the country were getting increasingly open as no single party could dominate.

“We can see now there are no dominant parties. New or old parties all stand a chance. It depends on their approach,” she added. – Bernama, June 19, 2022.