‘Zuraida still in the Cabinet for now’

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin (pic), who quit Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, will remain in the Cabinet for now, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

The Ampang MP could still attend the next Cabinet meeting on June 1 as she had not tendered her resignation notice to him yet, the Prime Minister added.

“She can still attend the Cabinet meeting as she has not resigned and I have not fired her. Until she meets me and has had a discussion, she is still a Cabinet minister.

“Until I make the final decision and appoint a new minister, we won’t know what will happen yet,” Ismail Sabri said at a press conference in Tokyo after wrapping up his six-day trip to Japan yesterday.

Zuraida, who quit her party on Thursday to join the new Parti Bangsa Malaysia, is overseas.

She is expected to return home on June 2 after participating in a Malaysian Timber Council business mission.

Ismail Sabri said various people had given their views on Zuraida’s exit from Bersatu, including her former party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, as well as other Cabinet members.

“Everyone has different views on this issue. The final decision is mine to make. It is still too early to decide; because I have yet to meet her, I won’t comment further.

“Wait for me to return (to Malaysia), call her up for a meeting and discuss the matter with her. Then I will make the decision,” said Ismail Sabri.

He added that everyone was entitled to give their views and opinions. “I respect all views given as their views can be the basis for decision-making,” he said.

Zuraida was among the 11 MPs who quit PKR after the “Sheraton Move” which brought down the Pakatan Harapan government in February 2020.

She later joined Bersatu.