Zuraida gets RM9.9m discount for quitting PKR, to pay in RM1 notes

The Court of Appeal has deemed the RM10 million imposed on former lawmaker Zuraida Kamaruddin for breaching a PKR bond too “exorbitant”.

See Mee Chun, who chaired a three-judge panel which also comprised Azman Abdullah and Ahmad Kamal Shahid, reduced the sum to RM100,000.

The court also awarded Zuraida RM40,000 in costs.

Speaking to reporters later, the former Ampang MP said she accepted the court’s decision.

According to Free Malaysia Today, Zuraida (above), on a sarcastic note, said she would consider the RM100,000 as a donation to PKR and would settle the amount in RM1 notes.

Earlier, See said it was unreasonable for Zuraida to bear the RM10 million single-handedly.

“The party is entitled to damages, but not (in an amount of) RM10 million,” she said, pointing out that 10 other MPs from PKR had also quit at the same time in 2020.

‘Sheraton Move’

Their exit, which was part of the “Sheraton Move”, led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government after 22 months in power.

Former PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail initiated the RM10 million suit on behalf of the party after Zuraida quit following her victory in contesting the Ampang parliamentary seat during the 2018 general election.

In the statement of claim, Saifuddin said Zuraida executed a bond, where she had bound herself to pay the party a sum of RM10 million based on established terms and conditions of the agreement.

The terms and conditions of the bond include Zuraida agreeing to pay the party RM10 million no later than seven days upon her resignation from PKR, joining any other political party, or being an independent elected representative after she won the election on a PKR ticket.

Lawyers Navpreet Singh, William Leong, and Chiew Choon Man represented PKR while Azhar Harun appeared for Zuraida.

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