We defected on principle, says Zuraida Kamaruddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The decision of the 10 parliamentarians to leave PKR and help form the Perikatan Nasional coalition back in February was based on firm principles, claims Local Government and Housing Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin (pic).

Calling them the G10, Zuraida said the decision they made was the right one because Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was people-centric, moderate and humble.

"We made the decision based on firm principles, where we looked at the right and straight path," she said during the Kongres Negara Bersatu Untuk Malaysia gathering on Saturday (Aug 22).

She also said their decision to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) made them the coalition party in Perikatan with the most number of parliamentarians.

Quoting Winston Churchill, Zuraida said there was nothing wrong with changing one's party for the sake of principles and not the other way around.

The Congress was organised by four non-governmental organisations aligned with the Perikatan Nasional, namely Penggerak Komuniti Negara, Nation of Women, Pemuda Negara and Wanita Muda Negara.

The Congress also heard speeches from representatives of the NGOs.

Pemuda Negara chief Dr. Afif Bahardin said the decision to join forces with Perikatan Nasional under the leadership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wasn't easy.

He said they had to take into account the sacrifice of many others, but it had to be done for the future and survival of race and country.

"There were many things that we had to ponder and debate. But in the end, we made the decision," said Dr Afif, who is the Seberang Jaya assemblyman.