Zuraida Kamaruddin has penned a letter seeking leave from her position as PKR vice-president until the party’s disciplinary board concludes its deliberations on her case.
Her political secretary Nor Hizwan Ahmad said the letter was sent to PKR president Anwar Ibrahim two days ago.
“We have not been informed if the application has been accepted or otherwise,” he told reporters at the PKR Ampang division office today.
Nor Hizwan said the leave application pertains to the vice-president post alone and not her position as the housing and local government minister.
He said the application would not have any negative impact on Zuraida’s cabinet post.
“The letter is only for her position in the party, it has nothing to do with the ministry because she was appointed by the prime minister.
“It will not affect her ministerial work and responsibilities,” he added.
Nor Hizwan said Zuraida’s leave will commence immediately until the proceedings end.
Nor Hizwan said a letter was also sent to the disciplinary board, requesting it to refrain from taking action against Zuraida due to legal notices from PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Anwar’s aide Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak.
“This is because the legal notices have the same content as the show-cause letter issued by the disciplinary committee,” he added.
On Jan 18, Zuraida was issued with a show-cause letter and was given 14 days to respond.
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 purportedly insulted Anwar and leaked details of a private conversation between them.
She had claimed 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 same dinner, Zuraida had also accused Saifuddin of misappropriating funds, over which the latter is suing her for defamation.
At the time, the Ampang MP said she did not fear being dismissed from the party for her statements made against Anwar, Saifuddin and several other leaders.