High Court directs Zuraida to file defence against PKR's suit

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 16): The High Court here has directed Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (pictured) to file her defence against PKR’s lawsuit, which alleges that she violated an agreement she had with the political party when she left the group.

High Court deputy registrar Norhatini Abd Hamid yesterday directed former PKR vice-president Zuraida to file her defence by Dec 31 following case management conducted via the High Court’s e-review yesterday.

It was reported that PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Sept 28 initially filed the suit via law firm Messrs William Leong & Co against Zuraida.

In the statement of claim, Saifuddin reportedly alleged that Zuraida had executed a bond where she bound herself to pay the party RM10 million based on established terms and conditions of the agreement. 

According to news reports, the terms and conditions of the bond include the defendant agreeing to pay the party RM10 million no later than seven days upon her resignation from PKR, joining any other political party or being an independent elected representative after Zuraida won the election on a PKR ticket.

News reports, quoting Saifuddin, reported that Zuraida and 10 other PKR Members of Parliament (MPs) announced their resignation from the party on Feb 24.

Zuraida reportedly left PKR without resigning from her elected post as the Ampang MP.

News reports indicated that Saifuddin said Zuraida as well as the other ex-PKR MPs, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), Barisan Nasional (BN), PAS, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and others then formed a new political coalition known as Perikatan Nasional (PN), the administration of which the current federal government is under.

Saifuddin subsequently refiled the amended statement of claim on Oct 21 under PKR’s suit against Zuraida.

It is understood that PKR during the month demanded RM12 million from Zuraida under the legal action.

Besides the RM10 million, PKR is seeking from Zuraida RM2.049 million, the remuneration she received while being a PKR MP and a minister under the previous Pakatan Harapan (PH) administration.

The PH coalition originally comprised DAP, PKR, Parti Amanah Negara and Bersatu.

Bersatu subsequently left PH to form the PN coalition.

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