Attend meetings instead of issuing media statements, Fahmi tells Zuraida

KUALA LUMPUR: Zuraida Kamaruddin would have known why Works Minister Baru Bian’s former political secretary Zakaria Abd Hamid was sacked from PKR if she had regularly attended the party’s weekly political bureau meeting, says Fahmi Fadzil (pic).

The PKR communications director said information regarding Zakaria was presented to the party, and leaders concluded that action should be taken against the former Bera PKR division chief.

“It was a very serious full report that required disciplinary action to be taken.

“So, I urge her along with other leaders to remind themselves to be always present at this meeting to use this platform to discuss such issues, rather than issuing statements to the media that would not solve problems but only complicate matters.

“The best platform is for her to attend meetings, I stress again, ” the Lembah Pantai MP told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday (Nov 25).

Factions aligned to PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, including Zuraida, have been notably absent from the party’s weekly political bureau meetings for several months, following strained ties with party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Fahmi was responding to a statement by Zuraida, who said the party was being selective over who it wants to punish.

The PKR vice-president also said sarcastically that the move to sack Zakaria was a “brave action”.

Fahmi dismissed claims by Zakaria that he wasn’t given a chance to defend himself.

“He had met with Anwar when the incident happened.

“So to us, some form of representation can be made because even now, the party constitution allows for any member who has been sacked to appeal to the president to be allowed to return as a member.

“So the avenue is there within the party’s constitution for party leaders to come, discuss and find out for themselves, ” he said.

Fahmi added that he could not divulge further information on Zakaria’s sacking, as it was a confidential matter.

Zakaria and Ismail Dulhadi, an ordinary PKR member from Pahang, were stripped of their party membership following corruption allegations brought against them by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC).

According to PKR disciplinary board chairman Datuk Ahmad Kassim, the party received a letter from the MACC dated Oct 23 on the alleged incidents that are said to have happened during last year’s party elections.