PKR vice president Zuraida Kamaruddin has been given 14 days to respond to a show-cause letter issued to her on claims of disciplinary misconduct.
Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the letter issued by PKR’s Disciplinary Board was delivered to Zuraida yesterday.
He said this means the Housing and Local Government minister has 14 days from yesterday to provide an explanation, after which the board will decide on the next course of action.
Saifuddin, however, told reporters that he was not privy to grounds for the letter issued by party disciplinary board chief Ahmad Kassim.
“Whether there will be a hearing or dropped (from the party), that is within the powers of the Disciplinary Board, under Datuk Ahmad Kasim,” Saifuddin said when met after the party’s central leadership council (MPP) meeting today.
Earlier today, while the MPP meeting was in progress, there was chaos outside the PKR headquarters involving two groups; one in support of Zuraida and the other demanding for action to be taken against her.
One group shouted “hidup Zuraida” (long live Zuraida) while the other carried banners and yelled “pecat Zuraida” (sack Zuraida).
The gathering took place for close to two hours and ended at about noon.
Police were on the scene to control the situation.
Zuraida was absent from the meeting chaired by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, as she joined other Harapan leaders in Kimanis, Sabah, for polling day in the parliament seat by-election.
Meanwhile, ten state chapter chiefs of PKR demanded today for the party’s disciplinary board to sack Zuraida.
“Today we urge, after we received similar urges from the ground, from division heads in the states, for us (state chiefs) to take a strong stand that Zuraida must be sacked from the party.
“We, therefore, urge for the disciplinary board to study all the allegations made against Zuraida,” said Kedah PKR chief Datuk Johari Abdul.
In a press conference led by Johari, the nine leaders unanimously called for Zuraida’s sacking, lamenting that her presence in the party is not helping PKR and Anwar.
“So, we view her presence as meaningless, apart from worsening the situation and may perhaps affect the party in the future,” Johari told reporters.
When asked if Zuraida’s removal may cost the party its support from the Women’s wing, mostly owing to her strong influence, Johari said it is a risk which must be taken for the party’s wellbeing.
“We are willing to take that risk rather than keeping her. She doesn’t help at all. This is an important question.
“When a party member does not adhere to the rules and regulations and also the [party] constitution, then we have a problem,” he said, adding that this is why Zuraida must be removed.
Johari said that the show-cause letter issued to Zuraida had accused her to insulting the leadership, absence from meeting and making public statements.
Fuziah Salleh who was at the press conference, said that Zuraida has missed 13 MPP meetings, including the one held today.
Perak PKR chairman Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak, meanwhile, denied that Zuraida commands a strong support from the Women’s Wing.
“I want to touch on one thing. Many are assuming that she has a massive support, but it’s not true within the grassroots. Take Perak for example. Of the 24 branches, 22 are urging Zuraida to be sacked.
“Likewise, the Youth wing. Only one does not support [her sacking], while the others support. It is the same with Wanita too. So, to say that she has a strong support within Wanita, it’s not true. You can ask the state chiefs here,” he added.
Fuziah, a former Wanita PKR leader, echoed Farhash’s claim that Zuraida has lost popularity among their members.