KUALA LUMPUR: Former PKR vice-president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin claimed that she was forced to sign a RM10 million bond with the party to become its candidate in the 14th General Election (GE14) in 2018.
Zuraida said she received the document from the party's leadership a day before nomination day and did not have ample time to read the entire content.
"I was told that I need to put my signature on the documents to allow me to contest under PKR. I do not have the opportunity to read the content of the document I signed.
"I have been forced to sign certain documents against my will, without being given genuine choice," she said.
Zuraida said this in her defence against a RM10 million suit filed by PKR for violating a binding bond with the party.
She alleged that the party unilaterally prepared the document, and all candidates who contested under it were compelled to sign without any other options.
Zuraida stated that it made no sense for the party to allocate RM10 million for her campaign during the election.
"I did not receive any funds from the party to run for my campaign during GE14. In fact, I had to fork out my own money and organised a fundraising to support my campaign.
"PKR also once contacted me requesting a RM40,000 donation as they lacked funds to pay their staff salary," she said, adding that she did not resign, but was sacked by the party.
She added that her victory in GE14 was due to the credibility that the people in Ampang had in her as a member of parliament, rather than due to the support of the party.
Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir then set June 23 for a decision.
PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had filed the suit on behalf of the party via Messrs William Leong & Co on Sept 28, 2020.
In the statement of claim, Saifuddin said Zuraida had executed a bond that bound her to pay the party the sum in accordance with the terms and conditions set under the bond.
The terms included, among others, that Zuraida agreed 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 after becoming an independent elected representative.
Saifuddin claimed that on Feb 24, Zuraida had announced her resignation from the party through a statement with 10 other PKR MPs without stepping down as Ampang MP.
He said the defendant, together with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) and then opposition parties, namely Barisan Nasional (BN), Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Pas), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GRS) and others, had formed a new bloc known as "Perikatan Nasional" (PN).
On the same day, the PKR central leadership council approved a resolution to terminate Zuraida's membership from the party with immediate effect, with Saifuddin as the party's secretary-general issuing a certificate dated July 24 confirming the termination.
He said the defendant had enjoyed the benefits of being elected as the party's candidate and winning the Ampang parliamentary seat, and it was therefore unjust for her to retain the benefits without paying compensation for such marks and support she received. Therefore, the plaintiff is seeking for the RM10 million payment to the party under the bond.