PKR wins suit, court orders Zuraida to pay RM10 million

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin has been ordered by the High Court here, today to pay RM10 million to PKR for breaching the bond binding her to the party.

Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir allowed PKR's suit after finding that the bond to be a valid and binding contract.

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

The suit was filed by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Sept 28, 2020 to claim RM10 million from Zuraida for allegedly breaching the bond binding her to the party.

PKR's statement of claim said that Zuraida had signed the bond of RM10 million based on the terms and conditions set.

Judge Akhtar further said the plaintiff (PKR) had produced ample evidence of the termination of the defendant's membership by the Central Committee of the plaintiff.

The judge also said the RM10 million was not disproportionate but reasonable to act as a deterrence to prevent party members from acting against the party's interests.

"A lesser sum would not act as such a deterrence," the judge said.

Judge Akhtar said the court noted that the defendant had promised to pay the sum of RM10 million if she was terminated from the party.

"The court finds the bond was a valid agreement that binds the defendant to pay the RM10 million as promised on her membership being terminated," he said adding that the reputation of a membership of the defendant was caused by the defendant's own misconduct.

Therefore, the court allows the plaintiff's claim for the sum of RM10 million against the defendant with the cost of RM50,000 to be paid by the defendant to the plaintiff, the judge said.

Zuraida was represented by lawyer Muhammad Nizamuddin Abdul Hamid while PKR was represented by lawyer Navpreet Singh.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Nizamuddin, told Bernama that they will file an appeal against today's decision to the Court of Appeal. - BERNAMA