The Malaysian Insight

THERE was no issue raised when I drove a Mercedes-Benz 20 years ago, so why question it now, asked PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin.

These days, she said, she was being accused of corruption and cronyism because of the kind of vehicle she owned.

“Twenty years ago, when I drove a Mercedes, no one questioned where I got my money from.

“But now that we have power, there are a lot of claims. Zuraida is corrupt and all that,” she said in her speech at the opening of the Selangor PKR general assembly.

There have been allegations – even by fellow party members – that Zuraida, who is also housing and local government minister, was corrupt during her time as a Selangor exco.

Zuraida is a member of PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali’s team, which is embroiled in a “war” with vice-president Rafizi Ramli’s camp in the run-up to the party polls. Rafizi is gunning to take over the No. 2 post from Azmin, who is also economic affairs minister.

Rafizi’s camp has said it is championing “real” Reformasi in PKR, and has accused Azmin and his team of being corrupt.

Zuraida said she was instrumental in building the Wanita wing, which was in dire straits two decades ago.

“I used to pick up committee members one by one to go to meetings. I also dropped them off after the meetings, which sometimes went on until the wee hours.”

PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar said the party should have experienced and “tested” leaders.

He said the younger ones should be patient and wait their turn to rise through the ranks.

“The young ones still have time. Why is there a need to become prime minister faster? We need to have leaders who are willing to work so that PKR can rule for another five terms, not just another five years (one term),” said the water, land and natural resources minister.

“We have ‘tested’ people, like Azmin, Zuraida and me. So, I ask for your cooperation.”

Zuraida has announced that she will not defend her post, and instead, is gunning to be one of the party’s four vice-presidents. Xavier is looking to defend his position. – September 2, 2018.