PADANG TERAP: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) supreme leadership council member Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin remained coy when asked on rumours she would be leading a new political party, said to be friendly to the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.
The Ampang Member of Parliament (MP) said as of today, she had yet to receive any offer to lead any party, adding that anybody could form political organisations in this country under the democratic spirit.
Zuraida who is also the Plantation Industries and Commodities minister said for as long as the intention was to develop the country, those who wished to form a new party should not be stopped from doing so.
"What party? The party has not even been named yet, so how should we know who are the leaders? There is no party to lead yet, so how to lead?
"I haven't received any nomination (to lead a political party). Regardless of any political party we are with, we must think on how to develop the country and help the people, that is what matters the most.
"So, even if there are 10 or 20 parties and they share a common aspiration, the country will prosper but if they have other intentions, this nation will not develop," Zuraida told reporters after visiting the Sungai Sari Rubber Research Centre, Padang Sanai, here today.
Zuraida, who is also a former PKR vice-president was asked to comment on a news portal report that she was tipped to lead Parti Bangsa Malaysia.
The portal had reported that the party's registration had been approved by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) on Oct 29.
Among those rumoured to be leading the new party were another former PKR vice-president Dr. Xavier Jayakumar, who is also Kuala Langat MP and Julau MP Larry Soon @ Larry Sng.
In August 2020, Zuraida, together with former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali and other eight others had joined Bersatu.
A month later, both Azmin and Zuraida were appointed as Bersatu's supreme leadership council members.