The appeal hearing for Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, former vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), who is challenging a High Court decision ordering her to pay RM10 million to the party for breaching her bond, has been postponed to September 23. The Kuala Lumpur High Court had previously ruled that Zuraida had violated the terms of her bond with PKR and must compensate the party accordingly.
The rescheduled hearing has been confirmed by PKR's legal representative, Navpreet Singh, through a WhatsApp message. The proceedings will be held in open court at 9 a.m. on the stated date, where both sides will present their arguments.
The legal dispute between Zuraida and PKR stems from a ruling made on June 23, 2022, by Judge Datuk Akhtar Tahir. The judge sided with PKR, finding that the bond Zuraida had signed was a legally binding contract, thereby obligating her to adhere to its terms. In addition to the RM10 million payment, Zuraida was also ordered to cover RM50,000 in legal costs.
The lawsuit was initiated by Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, who was PKR’s secretary-general at the time. Saifuddin filed the suit on September 28, 2020, on behalf of the party to recover the RM10 million from Zuraida, alleging that she had breached the conditions of the bond. According to the lawsuit, the bond stipulated that Zuraida was required to pay PKR the specified amount under certain circumstances, including if she won an election on a PKR ticket and later resigned from the party, joined another political party, or became an independent elected representative.
Zuraida, who had represented the Ampang parliamentary constituency under PKR, contested the ruling and filed an appeal with the Court of Appeal on July 8, 2022. She argued that she had been coerced into signing the bond in 2018 when she was selected to be the party’s candidate for the 14th General Election. Zuraida claimed that signing the bond was a precondition for being allowed to contest under the PKR banner and that she had not willingly agreed to the terms.
However, Justice Akhtar rejected Zuraida's claims, ruling that there was no evidence to support her argument that she had signed the bond under duress or coercion. The judge deemed her contention as unsubstantiated, and the bond was upheld as valid and enforceable.
Zuraida's appeal to overturn the High Court decision has drawn attention due to the precedent it may set concerning political contracts and party loyalty in Malaysia. If the appeal is successful, it could potentially challenge the validity of such bonds in the future, while a failed appeal would reinforce the enforceability of political agreements of this nature.
The outcome of the upcoming appeal hearing on September 23 will be closely watched, not only by PKR and Zuraida’s supporters but also by the broader political community in Malaysia, as it touches upon issues of party loyalty, contractual obligations, and the legal framework governing political representatives in the country.
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