Continue RM10 million candidate bond condition, PKR assemblyman says

IPOH - Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) should continue the bond condition in the candidacy pledge for those contesting in any election including state polls.

Hulu Kinta Assemblyman Muhamad Arafat Varisai said the bond condition was important to ensure betrayals would not occur.

He said the decision made by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday which allowed PKR to claim RM10 million from former vice president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin proved it was possible to be implemented.

“Of course, this bond condition must be continued and I think all parties will start or have done this, but previously there was no legal provision through the constitution to prevent elected representatives from party hopping.

“There were many in the past who were not confident on this method as they stated it would be difficult to win if it was taken to court, but the decision made by court this year was a good sign,” he told reporters after officiating the Gotong-Royong Mega 1.0 and the launch of the Perak State One Hour Malaysia Clean Up in Dewan Seri Delima, Kampung Tersusun Batu 5, Tambun here on Saturday.

Arafat who was the Perak PKR vice chairman said the court decision would set an example in the future for all political parties to avoid representatives from party hopping.

He explained the situation would provide a lesson for representatives who wanted to betray the party to think before doing so unless they wanted to face losses.

The Kuala Lumpur High Court on Friday allowed PKR to claim RM10 million from former vice president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin regarding the issue of going against bond conditions tying her to PKR.

Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir decided such after allowing the summon by PKR through its secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Sept 28, 2020.

PKR’s claim statement filed on Sept 28, 2020, stated Zuraida signed the bond that binded herself to pay RM10 million based on the bond’s terms and conditions.

PKR claimed Zuraida agreed to pay the party the amount within seven days should something occur after winning the election on its ticket such as resigning from the party or joining another party or becoming an independent MP.

The party claimed during or around Feb 24, 2020, Zuraida in a statement with 10 PKR MPs announced their resignation but chose to remain as Ampang MP which was the seat she won on PKR’s ticket, and to form a new bloc known as PN.

The 10 other PKR members who left the party were Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali (Gombak), Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (Indera Mahkota), Baru Bian (Selangau), Datuk Kamaruddin Jaffar (Bandar Tun Razak), Datuk Mansor Othman (Nibong Tebal), Datuk Rashid Hasnon (Batu Pahat), Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar (Segamat), Ali Biju (Saratok), Willie Mongin (Puncak Borneo) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).