Feb 25 date agreed for Zuraida's disciplinary hearing, says aide

PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin has verbally agreed for her disciplinary board hearing to be held on Feb 25, therefore the ultimatum issued by board chairperson Ahmad Kasim does not arise.

Her political secretary Nor Hizwan Ahmad said this in response to Ahmad's statement yesterday rejecting a letter from Zuraida (above) requesting a suspension of the hearing against her and giving her until Feb 20 to attend it.

"Zuraida has spoken to a staff member of the disciplinary board and agreed on Feb 25 as a date for the meeting," said Nor Hizwan.

He added that Zuraida had already committed to a number of events and programmes in her function as housing and local government minister, and that any delays would have a huge impact in terms of coordination as well as finance.

Nor Hizwan also went on to slam Tanjung Malim MP Chang Lih Kang who had commented on Zuraida's decision to take leave from her position as PKR vice-president until her disciplinary hearing was sorted out.

Chang reportedly said that for the duration of her leave, Zuraida should not be allowed to use her position in any programmes at the party’s divisions and branches.

Nor Hizwan called Chang's response "immature, prejudiced, baseless and irrelevant."

"Zuraida clearly stated her leave intention to allow the disciplinary board to work freely and without any influence," he said.

Nor Hizwan pointed to Chang's silence when other PKR vice-presidents Nurul Izzah and Rafizi Ramli (below) had taken leave - "happily leaving behind responsibility that the party entrusted to them with no just cause."

He stressed that Zuraida took her elected position in the party very seriously and would continue to be motivated by passion and dedication to party members.

On Jan 18, Zuraida was issued a show-cause letter and given 14 days to respond.

Following her reply, a disciplinary hearing was called for.

The show-cause letter had mentioned several issues, including her speech on Dec 8 at a dinner organised following a walkout after PKR's heated national congress.

In her speech, Zuraida had alleged that Anwar tried to convince her that a sex video allegedly featuring his estranged deputy Azmin Ali was genuine.

She also claimed Anwar told her that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wanted to sack Azmin from his position as economic affairs minister.

At the time, the Ampang MP said she did not fear being dismissed from the party for her statements made against Anwar, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and several other leaders.