30 Facts About Zuraida Kamaruddin

Zuraida binti Kamaruddin is a Singaporean-born Malaysian politician who formerly served as Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities in the Barisan Nasional administration under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Housing and Local Government twice in the Perikatan Nasional administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Pakatan Harapan administration under former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was Member of Parliament for Ampang from March 2008 to November 2022.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was the Women Chief of PKR from May 2007 to November 2018 and then the vice-president from November 2018 till February 2020 when she resigned from the party in February 2020 to join Malaysian United Indigenous Party with her key political ally, Deputy President of PKR and Minister of Economic Affairs Azmin Ali and several MPs aligned with Azmin.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was with BERSATU and was a member of the Supreme Council of BERSATU from February 2020 to May 2022 before her resignation to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was a member of PBM from June to December 2022 where she failed to get re-elected under their banner in the November 2022 Malaysian general elections, polling only 4.4 percent of the electorate in the Ampang parliamentary seat which she had held since 2008 as a PKR candidate.

Zuraida Kamaruddin held the position of Qualitative Study Manager before progressing to Chuo Senko Advertising as Marketing Research and Account Planning Manager.

Zuraida Kamaruddin is a founder and chairwoman of WIRDA, a Community Service Center that provides counseling and protection to needy groups including single mothers, travelers, converts and teens.

Zuraida Kamaruddin won her Ampang seat in the 2008 general election representing PKR, defeating her predecessor Rozaidah Talib with a majority of 3,676 votes.

Zuraida Kamaruddin successfully defended the seat in both the 2013 and 2018 general elections with increased majorities.

Zuraida Kamaruddin served as the Women's Chief for PKR before being succeeded by Haniza Talha.

Zuraida Kamaruddin was elected to become vice-president of PKR and concurrently served as Women's Chief for Pakatan Harapan until 24 February 2020.

Zuraida Kamaruddin is an advisor to the Selangor Women Empowerment Institute, a Selangor State Government think tank.

On 24 February 2020, PKR general-secretary Saifuddin Nasution Ismail announced in a press conference that the Minister of Economic Affairs, Azmin Ali who was the Deputy President, and Zuraida Kamaruddin had been expelled from the party for their actions on 23 October 2019 which went against the party's stance regarding the position of the Prime Minister.

Part of the bond terms include that Zuraida Kamaruddin agrees to pay the party a sum of RM10 million not later than seven days upon winning the election on the PKR ticket and then resigning from the party or joining any other political party or becoming an independent elected representative.

Zuraida Kamaruddin attempted to strike out the lawsuit but was dismissed by the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

Saifuddin countered that Zuraida Kamaruddin did not object to the signing of the bond.

On 23 June 2023, the High Court found that the bond signed was a valid and binding contract and ordered Zuraida Kamaruddin to pay PKR RM10 million for breaking the bond.

Zuraida Kamaruddin filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the decision, who partially allowed the appeal and reduced the sum of damages to RM100,000.

On 2 February 2022, the Secretary General of PBM Nor Hizwan Ahmad clarified that Zuraida Kamaruddin was not a member of PBM.

On 22 March, BERSATU Supreme Council member Muhammad Faiz Na'aman criticised Zuraida Kamaruddin on her absence in helping to campaign for BERSATU in the 2022 Johor state election and suggested that this was a subtle betrayal to BERSATU and urged the party to take serious disciplinary actions against Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Zuraida Kamaruddin wrote that she spoke with Muhyiddin the idea of forming a new multiracial party to provide added value and be a subsidiary to BERSATU as it would increase support for BERSATU with the background of PBM which commands the support of the grassroots who numbered 400,000 people would definitely benefit BERSATU.

On 7 June 2022, Zuraida Kamaruddin updated that Ismail Sabri had planned for a meeting with her and that it is the Prime Minister's prerogative on the status of her position as Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Zuraida Kamaruddin clarified her membership to PBM is still pending and should retain her Ampang federal seat.

Sng expressed his hope for Zuraida Kamaruddin to be retained in the Cabinet as the Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Sng clarified that the leadership transition from him to Zuraida Kamaruddin would "take time" and Zuraida Kamaruddin would take the lead in his absence.

In GE15, Zuraida Kamaruddin sought re-election as Ampang MP by contesting for the Ampang seat for the fourth time.

Zuraida Kamaruddin squared off against a total of eight opponents in the election; five candidates from BN, PH, PN, Gerakan Tanah Air, Heritage Party and three independents.

On 11 April 2023, Zuraida Kamaruddin was reported to have filed a judicial review leave application at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in a bid to be officially recognised as PBM president.

On 6 June, the High Court rejected Zuraida Kamaruddin's leave application with Justice Amarjeet saying that Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966 prevents the court to intervene, or hear any issues or disputes on internal party matters.

On 14 December 2022, Tan Sri Annuar Musa announced that Zuraida Kamaruddin has joined Muafakat Nasional, a former political party turned non-governmental organisation.