GE15: Zuraida ready to defend Ampang seat

SHAH ALAM - Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin is ready to defend the Ampang parliamentary seat she currently holds in the 15th General Election (GE15).

According to Astro Awani's report, Zuraida said anyone was welcomed to compete against her in the constituency that she has represented since 2008, which was the first time the parliamentary constituency was established.

The Plantation Industries and Commodities (MPIC) Minister said she was confident that she could win the seat although she will be contesting under a new party.

"This is a democratic country, anyone can contest in Ampang.

“They are most welcomed, you (media) are also welcome to compete in Ampang.

“I will defend the Ampang parliamentary seat," she said on Sunday.

There were rumours that Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) would field its vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar to contest the Ampang seat against Zuraida while the Permatang Pauh seat she (Nurul Izzah) currently held will be defended by the party’s women’s chief Fadhlina Sidek.

However, Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman and PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hinted that it was highly likely that his daughter will remain in Permatang Pauh.

In GE14, Zuraida who was then PKR vice-president managed to retain the Ampang parliamentary seat with a majority of 41,956 votes in a four-cornered fight.

However, Zuraida left the party in 2020 to join Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) to establish a new government, replacing the PH government.

Earlier this month, she was appointed as the president of PBM.

Meanwhile, Zuraida said the party's application to join Barisan Nasional (BN) will only be known on the nomination day on Nov 5.

"Regarding the cooperation with BN, we are waiting for the nomination day.

“If we want to be Friends of BN, we have to be friends now, not later as it will be another story," she said.