COMMENT | Zuraida Kamaruddin was in her element as she addressed a gathering at the Renaissance Hotel in Kuala Lumpur on the night of Dec 9, 2019.
Being in her element meant she could be the Zuraida everyone knew – fierce and fearless in the same mould as many of her male counterparts in politics, and even to the extent of being uncouth and ‘unpolished’ as any of the men if need be.
Also by her side that night, almost three years ago, was Azmin Ali, her boss, confidant, right-hand comrade, and even ‘partner-in-crime’, all rolled in one.
The gathering was unmistakably a show of defiance against Anwar Ibrahim and the top leadership in PKR for what they alleged were injustices and unfairness against their group.
Zuraida was then a PKR vice-president and Azmin, deputy president.
Before hundreds of their supporters, Zuraida declared she and Azmin were ready in case they were fired from PKR. She said both of them were prepared to make sacrifices for PKR’s sake and set it back on the right path.
Wow, how noble of them! But we know better, don’t we?
The 2019 event, dubbed the Shared Prosperity Vision (SPV) 2030 gathering, was the Azmin/Zuraida group’s main sales pitch for their supporters to prepare for what was to come.
It was just two months later, that the Sheraton political putsch took place.
Azmin and Zuraida were seen among the key players who betrayed their colleagues and comrades in Pakatan Harapan and brought down a democratically elected government they were a part of.
It was political treachery at its worst and one never seen before. Malaysians were caught in a daze and just couldn’t believe that some of the politicians they elected as their MPs barely two years ago could betray their trust in such a treacherous manner.
It was beyond their comprehension and imagination.
Sheraton Move-rs, where are they now?
Thank God there is a thing, a theory actually, called Karma. It is a term about the cycle of cause and effect. According to the theory of Karma, what happens to a person, happens because they caused it with their actions.
So, who was the first traitor that Karma took care of? Muhyiddin Yassin – the man who benefited the most from the Sheraton Move by becoming prime minister but was forced to resign only after 17 months in office.
Former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin (left)
And what is the ex-PM doing these days? Applying pressure on the sitting PM, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, for a deputy prime minister’s post for Bersatu. Seriously, is that all Muyhiddin can think of – creating more political posts?
Guess who has been waiting impatiently to be the DPM? You are right – Azmin.
Over the past week or so, Bersatu leaders have been going gaga over the DPM’s post, insisting there was a written agreement with the PM that Bersatu would be given the DPM’s position in return for the party’s support.
So, it’s possible that Azmin will be DPM should Ismail Sabri buckle under Bersatu’s intense pressure. I do not see Muhyiddin recommending any other candidate for the post. He wouldn’t want to offend Azmin; neither can he afford to.
The Bersatu president is also under a lot of pressure. He has to deal with the falling out of Azmin and his right winger, Zuraida, who resigned from Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
PBM has also announced that Zuraida will be the president-designate of the party – a position which will make her “Ibu Presiden” (Madame President).
Muhyiddin must be aware that Azmin and Zuraida are no ordinary politicians but a notch above with very strong views and their own styles and ways of doing things. Both must be handled with great tact and care.
Chilly relations
A Bersatu leader, a friend of mine, has described the latest party crisis as the ‘Ibu Presiden’ Zuraida vs ‘DPM’ Azmin debacle.
He noted that Muhyiddin has no choice but to stand behind Azmin and for him to request that Zuraida’s cabinet post be given to a new Bersatu nominee.
My friend conceded that he was unsure why Zuraida and Azmin, who were once comrades-in-arms, were not even talking to each other now.
When prodded, he could only offer speculations that he heard from other party members.
Top among Zuraida’s grievances was that she felt Azmin was more and more engrossed in his personal affairs - or personal ambition - than looking after the Group of 10 who crossed over with him during the Sheraton Move.
Zuraida was also said to be slighted when she was not given the Local Government and Housing portfolio but was shifted to the Primary Industries Ministry during the cabinet reshuffle when Ismail Sabri took over as prime minister in August last year.
She had been handling local authorities since 2018 during the Harapan administration.
Meanwhile, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu told The Star that he was not sure what went wrong but Zuraida only showed up at a few supreme council meetings.
Ahmad Faizal also revealed that Zuraida has approached Bersatu members to join her new party. Naturally, this did not go down well with Bersatu leaders, including the president.
And what is the ex-PM doing these days? Applying pressure on the sitting PM, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, for a deputy prime minister’s post for Bersatu. Seriously, is that all Muyhiddin can think of – creating more political posts?
Guess who has been waiting impatiently to be the DPM? You are right – Azmin.
Over the past week or so, Bersatu leaders have been going gaga over the DPM’s post, insisting there was a written agreement with the PM that Bersatu would be given the DPM’s position in return for the party’s support.
So, it’s possible that Azmin will be DPM should Ismail Sabri buckle under Bersatu’s intense pressure. I do not see Muhyiddin recommending any other candidate for the post. He wouldn’t want to offend Azmin; neither can he afford to.
The Bersatu president is also under a lot of pressure. He has to deal with the falling out of Azmin and his right winger, Zuraida, who resigned from Bersatu to join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM).
PBM has also announced that Zuraida will be the president-designate of the party – a position which will make her “Ibu Presiden” (Madame President).
Muhyiddin must be aware that Azmin and Zuraida are no ordinary politicians but a notch above with very strong views and their own styles and ways of doing things. Both must be handled with great tact and care.
Chilly relations
A Bersatu leader, a friend of mine, has described the latest party crisis as the ‘Ibu Presiden’ Zuraida vs ‘DPM’ Azmin debacle.
He noted that Muhyiddin has no choice but to stand behind Azmin and for him to request that Zuraida’s cabinet post be given to a new Bersatu nominee.
My friend conceded that he was unsure why Zuraida and Azmin, who were once comrades-in-arms, were not even talking to each other now.
When prodded, he could only offer speculations that he heard from other party members.
Top among Zuraida’s grievances was that she felt Azmin was more and more engrossed in his personal affairs - or personal ambition - than looking after the Group of 10 who crossed over with him during the Sheraton Move.
Zuraida was also said to be slighted when she was not given the Local Government and Housing portfolio but was shifted to the Primary Industries Ministry during the cabinet reshuffle when Ismail Sabri took over as prime minister in August last year.
She had been handling local authorities since 2018 during the Harapan administration.
Meanwhile, Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu told The Star that he was not sure what went wrong but Zuraida only showed up at a few supreme council meetings.
Ahmad Faizal also revealed that Zuraida has approached Bersatu members to join her new party. Naturally, this did not go down well with Bersatu leaders, including the president.
Bersatu deputy president Ahmad Faizal Azumu
Meanwhile, more elected representatives were leaving or had left Bersatu. Lahad Datu MP Mohamaddin Ketapi announced his resignation from the party barely six months after joining it to become an independent.
Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin was also on the way out after announcing he has applied to join PBB. Another MP from Sarawak, Saratok’s Ali Biju, is also expected to quit Bersatu.
So, Zuraida, Willie, and Ali, part of the Azmin’s cartel of 10, had left or are leaving him and Bersatu. When the chips are down, do not expect fair weather friends to hang around you – there is no honour among thieves.
Finally, allow me to share with Azmin this press snippet: “Very early in Ismail Sabri’s administration, Umno’s Puad Zarkashi branded a rumoured nomination of Azmin Ali to the DPM’s post as suicidal”.
I have to agree with Puad Zarkashi… and for obvious reasons.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
Meanwhile, more elected representatives were leaving or had left Bersatu. Lahad Datu MP Mohamaddin Ketapi announced his resignation from the party barely six months after joining it to become an independent.
Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin was also on the way out after announcing he has applied to join PBB. Another MP from Sarawak, Saratok’s Ali Biju, is also expected to quit Bersatu.
So, Zuraida, Willie, and Ali, part of the Azmin’s cartel of 10, had left or are leaving him and Bersatu. When the chips are down, do not expect fair weather friends to hang around you – there is no honour among thieves.
Finally, allow me to share with Azmin this press snippet: “Very early in Ismail Sabri’s administration, Umno’s Puad Zarkashi branded a rumoured nomination of Azmin Ali to the DPM’s post as suicidal”.
I have to agree with Puad Zarkashi… and for obvious reasons.
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
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