PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin refused to respond to detractors slamming her in their speeches during the PKR elections yesterday.

The vice-president candidate said she was taking the higher road and would focus on bringing the party forward.

“We practise mature politics. It is not on my level to entertain (the allegations),” she told The Malaysian Insight when contacted.

Yesterday, on a campaign trail in Seremban, Wanita exco candidate Faizal Ariffin said Zuraida was only focused on certain projects at the end of the “kartel”, believed to be in reference to PKR deputy president Azmin Ali and Zuraida.

Zuraida, seen as a staunch supporter of Azmin, said she forgave her critics as they were still new to politics.

“It is okay. I pardon them because they are raw and unpolished,” the housing and local government minister said.

Her political secretary, Nor Hizawan Ahmad, said the party polls should be about expressing the party struggle and not attacking each other.

“This race should be about racing to compete with new ideologies, not taking down others.

“We need to have a new mission on what we want to do to win. But now we are attacking each other. How then?” he said to The Malaysian Insight when contacted.

He also denied allegations that Zuraida only went after monetary projects and had turned her back on the party struggle.

“These allegations make things worse in the party and open up a can of worms, even though we know these issues are just claims. They are all allegations,” the PKR Selangor communications chief said.

This is the second attack on Zuraida after fellow MP Fuziah Salleh, contesting for a Wanita post, attacked her for being a yes-man.

The PKR polls are ongoing for three weeks and involve 800,000 members.

Anwar was declared party president, winning uncontested. Azmin is going up against Rafizi Ramli for the deputy post. – August 12, 2018.