PLANTATION Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has been appointed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president, replacing Larry Sng Wei Shien.

PBM, in a statement issued today, said that the appointment was made at the party’s supreme council meeting yesterday after its members adopted the seven motions – including on Zuraida taking over the president’s post – that were passed at its 2022 annual general meeting in Shah Alam on October 1.

“The supreme council, which convened yesterday, after going through the proper process in accordance with the guidelines of the party’s constitution, appointed Zuraida as the party president.

“The supreme council and all party members congratulate Zuraida Kamaruddin and pray that she will continue to be given the strength to lead the party for it to continue to give the best service to Malaysians,” PBM secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad said in the statement.

He also thanked Sng, who is Julau MP, for leading the party previously.

On May 26, Zuraida, who is Ampang lawmaker, announced that she was leaving Bersatu to join PBM.

She was appointed local government and housing Minister after Pakatan Harapan (PH) won the 2018 general election by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Zuraida was reappointed to the post when Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was prime minister and then she was given the plantation industries and commodities minister portfolio after Ismail Sabri Sabri became prime minister last year.

PBM, previously Sarawak Workers’ Party, was registered on October 27, 2021. It was founded by Mohamad Sukri Yusri, who was also its first president, and several other politicians. Sng became president in January 2022.

Currently, PBM has six MPs. Apart from Zuraida and Sng, the others are Steven Choong Shiau Yoon (Tebrau), Mohammadin Ketapi (Lahad Datu),  Dr Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat) and Dr Edmund Santhara Kumar (Segamat). – Bernama, October 8, 2022.