Speed up meeting on Zuraida’s replacement, Muhyiddin tells PM

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin today urged Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to expedite the meeting to discuss the status of the industry, plantation and commodities portfolio held by Zuraida Kamaruddin in the Cabinet.

Noting that it had been more than two weeks since her decision to leave Bersatu, he said he hoped Ismail would prioritise the meeting in question.

He said he did not want the party leadership and grassroots to assume that he as president had not taken any action on the matter.

“On the part of Bersatu, we have given our views. This matter should be decided on immediately,” he said at a press conference after a dialogue in Kuala Lumpur today.

Also present were Education Minister Radzi Jidin and Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Muhyiddin said Bersatu’s request was simple: to maintain the quota of ministers from the party following Zuraida’s move on May 26 to quit and join Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) instead.

“If they want to appoint Zuraida to whatever position, that’s their right,” he said.

“The main thing is, don’t take from Bersatu’s quota. If they want to establish a new ministry, go ahead.”

When asked about PBM’s call for the seat to remain Zuraida’s, Muhyiddin refused to comment.

He said that her party could hope, but that the decision still lay with the prime minister.

Zuraida had said in her announcement in May that she would meet with Ismail as soon as possible to discuss her resignation as plantation industries and commodities minister.

In a separate development, Muhyiddin also commented on the application by Bersatu MP Willie Mongin to join Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), the party led by Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg.

He said Willie had been contacted by Bersatu Supreme Council member Mohamed Azmin Ali to arrange a closed-door meeting with the party leaders.

Despite Willie’s statements to the media, Muhyiddin said he would prefer not to comment any further but to instead take a more friendly approach through discussions.

“I believe if Willie can meet with Azmin and then with me, we can resolve any issues that arise,” he said.

“The important thing is for us to give him support. It is better that we talk and resolve this together.”

Willie, the Puncak Borneo MP, said yesterday that he had applied to join PBB several months ago.

He contested the Puncak Borneo seat on a Bersatu ticket in the 2018 general election.

He joined Bersatu in 2020, in the wake of the Sheraton Move which saw the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration.