Zuraida, serves you right for betraying voters!

 No News Is Bad News

UPDATE:

PKR mulling legal action against other defectors, says Fahmi

The party’s information chief Fahmi Fadzil says the court ruling ordering Zuraida Kamaruddin to pay RM10 million will be discussed by PKR leaders.

Bernama - 23 Jun 2023, 2:52pm

Fahmi Fadzil said Zuraida Kamaruddin was not the only one who defected to other parties after the 14th general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR may consider taking legal action against some of its former members who defected to other parties after the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.

PKR information chief Fahmi Fadzil said this would be discussed by the leadership following the High Court decision today, ordering former party vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin to pay PKR RM10 million for breaching her bond with the party.

“At the next PKR leadership meeting, the action taken against Zuraida and the court’s decision today may be discussed. She was not the only one who jumped ship at that time, there were others too.

“So, PKR may continue taking legal action against those who betrayed the party,” he told reporters here.

This morning, Judge Akhtar Tahir ruled in favour of PKR in its suit against Zuraida after finding that the bond was a valid and binding contract.

The court also ordered Zuraida to pay RM50,000 in costs.

Fahmi, who is also the communications and digital minister, said the court’s decision proved PKR’s position that party hopping is an action committed only by those without principles.

“That’s why the party had the bond signed with her and others who contested (in elections) on PKR’s ticket,” he said.

In February 2020, Zuraida and 10 other PKR MPs – including then deputy president Azmin Ali – declared that they were quitting the party and Pakatan Harapan (PH) to set up an independent bloc in parliament.

PKR called it an “act of betrayal”.

In what would become known as the Sheraton Move, most of the rebel group would go on to join Bersatu, with some members, such as Azmin, taking up senior positions in the then Perikatan Nasional-led government.

 

You can cry till kingdom come but still no sympathies for you, a political traitor!

Zuraida, serves you right for betraying voters!

KUALA LUMPUR, June 23, 2023: Serves her right! No sympathies for this political frog and traitor for betraying voters who voted her due to their support for Pakatan Harapan (PH).

It is hoped this this court decision will serve as a warning to all politicians to be disciplined and principled.

If you want to turn your back on the voters who voted for you, then quit and get a fresh mandate from the voters.

No News Is Bad News reproduces online news portal Free Malaysia Today’s report on the court decision:

 

Court orders Zuraida to pay RM10mil for breaching PKR bond

The party sued Zuraida Kamaruddin over benefits she enjoyed as Ampang MP as well as a minister in the former Pakatan Harapan government.

Ho Kit Yen - 23 Jun 2023, 9:50am

PKR filed a suit against Zuraida Kamaruddin in 2020, claiming that she had breached a contractual bond by joining Bersatu following the Sheraton Move.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here ordered former PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin to pay RM10 million in damages for breaching a party bond she signed six years ago.

Justice Akhtar Tahir ruled that the party succeeded in proving its claim against Zuraida.

“The purpose of the bond is to deter members, especially (PKR’s) elected candidates, from acting against the interest of the party before or after an election.

“A lesser sum will not act as a deterrent,” he said.

The judge said that under the terms of the bond, Zuraida had promised to pay RM10 million in any of three events, including if PKR terminates her membership or if she resigns.

“Her contention that she signed it under duress is baseless. The evidence showed she signed the bond with full knowledge of the contents,” Akhtar added.

The court also ordered Zuraida to pay RM50,000 in costs to PKR.

PKR, through its secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, had filed a suit in 2020 against Zuraida, claiming that she had breached the contractual bond by joining Bersatu following the Sheraton Move in late February 2020.

The party said it was invoking Section 71 of the Contracts Act 1950 to establish its right to recover compensation for benefits Zuraida enjoyed as Ampang MP and by being appointed minister.

In her defence, Zuraida claimed the bond was “unconstitutional”, adding that PKR could not enforce its terms as they breached her freedom of association guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

PKR was represented by lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong and Chiew Choon Man while Nurul Najwa Zainuddin appeared for Zuraida.