Zuraida: I will only answer to disciplinary committee

PETALING JAYA: I will only answer to the disciplinary committee and no one else, say PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin.

The Ampang MP, who is also the Housing and Local Government Minister, said there were three matters mentioned in the show-cause letter sent to her on Jan 15 by the disciplinary committee.

Refusing to disclose what was said in the letter, Zuraida said among the three was the content of a speech she made during a PKR gathering at the Renaissance Hotel on Dec 8.

She said her attendance at the PKR Central Council meetings, which has been much criticised by party leaders who asked for her sacking prior to this, was not among the three issues.

"Whatever I said during the PKR gathering at the Renaissance Hotel was nothing but the truth. I have also said it internally to party president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," said Zuraida.

During the dinner on Dec 8 themed "Shared Prosperity Vision”, Zuraida alleged that Anwar tried to convince her that it was PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali in the sex video that went viral in June.

The dinner was organised by Azmin shortly after those aligned to Azmin's faction boycotted the final day of the party's national congress in Melaka.

Anwar and Azmin were at that time openly locked in conflict, with Zuraida aligned to Azmin's faction.

"I would also like to remind those who are asking for my sacking that I received the second highest number of votes.

"The president (Anwar) had asked that we stop the public bickering on party matters, but this group asking for my sacking is not heeding Anwar's advice, despite them being appointed by the president himself," said Zuraida, who was in Kimanis when contacted on Saturday (Jan 18).

Earlier in the day, two groups faced off over the sacking of Zuraida at the PKR headquarters.

Ten PKR state chiefs also said that they wanted Zuraida sacked for disparaging remarks about Anwar.

Kedah PKR State Chief and Sungai Petani MP Datuk Johari Abdul, who led the 10, said there were many voices from the grassroots calling for the sacking of Zuraida over her criticism of the party president.

He was flanked by nine other PKR state chiefs as he spoke to the media after a state leadership meeting at the party headquarters.

"Zuraida was rude to Anwar when she openly disparaged the president in public. She has to be cured of her arrogance and must be brought down. She has never attended any of the 13 Central Leadership Council meetings," said Pahang PKR state chief Fuziah Salleh.

On the other hand, Sarawak PKR state chief Baru Bian said that he did not support a public call for the sacking of a vice-president who has been democratically elected by party grassroots.

"Anwar and Azmin have said we must solve our internal issues through party channels. We have a constitution, and we have party mechanisms.

"While I believe in the freedom to express opinions democratically, this group is not doing that by addressing matter through party channels," said Baru, who is also the Minister of Works.