KUALA LUMPUR: PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin has denied rumours of her jumping ship to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu).
In clarifying the matter, the Housing and Local Government minister said she was not one of the PKR members of parliament (MPs) who would leave the party, along with its deputy president, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
She said she would not be making any announcement to join Bersatu in the near future, dismissing rumour of her attendance at the party’s annual general assembly on Dec 29.
“It (rumour of her joining Bersatu is not true,” she said when contacted today.
Zuraida, was said to be close with Azmin, who is economic affairs minister.
Speculation is rife that Azmin would join Bersatu, along with 20 members of parliament, as viralled and discussed by netizens in social media since two days ago.
This was following reports of mass exodus of Umno MPs.
On Dec 12, five Sabah Umno MPs, nine assemblymen, 21 division leaders led by its state liaison chief Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor had announced that their departure with immediate effect.
Two days later, Larut MP Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in an interview with NSTP also announced that he had left Umno.
Joining him were Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (Tasik Gelugor), Datuk Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam) and Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah).