Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who quit the cabinet and was subsequently sacked from Umno last year, has joined opposition party PKR today.

The announcement was made by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim at the PKR extraordinary congress in Bangi, Selangor this afternoon.

pkr egm 130609 zaid ibrahim join party 02 Anwar said that Zaid’s membership in PKR will help boost the party because “he is known for his bravery in defending human rights and the independence of judiciary".

He also said that Zaid has a good relationship with DAP and PAS and his decision to join PKR will help strengthen Pakatan Rakyat.

Zaid’s role in the opposition coalition will be discussed at the Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting to be held the Monday after next.

“With his experience and leadership, he can help strengthen the Pakatan secretariat,” said Anwar.

Ready to help Pakatan to be viable gov't

Zaid, who was present, said that he hoped to contribute to the party.

"I’m confident in the party's cause... I believe I have an opportunity to assist Anwar and PKR.”

pkr egm bangi zaid ibrahim joins pkr event 130609 15 He added that his personal views were in tune with PKR - a party which he described as “multiracial” and one which “fights for the rights of the Malaysian people”.

“I am ready to help Pakatan become an alternative and viable government that the people can rely on,” said Zaid.

When asked why he picked today to announce his decision, Zaid said today was a “historic day” as PKR embarked on bold constitutional amendments within the party.

pkr egm bangi zaid ibrahim joins pkr event 130609 07 PKR is holding a one-day EGM to discuss major changes to the party constitution which will introduce direct elections, term limits to party posts and a 30 percent quota for women in the leadership.

The meeting, held at the Selangor International Islamic University College in Bangi, was attended by 1,009 party delegates.

Anwar said Zaid will soon be appointed as a member in the party’s powerful supreme council and its political bureau, pending approval from PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Decision not a surprise

Zaid, 58, who owns the country’s largest law firm, joined Umno in 2000 and served as Kota Bharu parliamentarian from 2004 to 2008. [*]

pkr egm bangi zaid ibrahim joins pkr event 130609 06 He was however not picked to defend his seat at the 2008 general election after falling out with party chieftains in Kelantan.

Nevertheless, he was appointed a senator by former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in March 2008 and was brought into the cabinet with the task of reforming the judiciary.

He resigned from the cabinet six months later in protest of the arrests of three prominent individuals - DAP parliamentarian Teresa Kok, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, and Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng - under the Internal Security Act.

pkr egm bangi zaid ibrahim joins pkr event 130609 20 Zaid was sacked from Umno in December 2008 for attending events of the opposition parties.

A strong advocate for judicial reforms, Zaid became increasingly disillusioned at the tail-end of Abdullah’s administration.

His decision to join PKR did not come as a surprise as Zaid was often seen mingling with Pakatan Rakyat leaders in recent months.

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[*] Editor's note: It has been pointed out to us that Zaid Ibrahim has relinquished all his equity and interests in the firm when he was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister's Department last year. He has also relinquished his management role in the firm.