Zuraida Kamaruddin

Summary

Zuraida Kamaruddin is a former three-term MP for Ampang (2008–2022) who served as minister in three successive federal administrations under Mahathir Mohamad, Muhyiddin Yassin, and Ismail Sabri Yaakob, holding portfolios in Housing and Local Government and Plantation Industries and Commodities. She was a central figure in the February 2020 'Sheraton Move' political realignment that collapsed the Pakatan Harapan government, and subsequently cycled through three political parties — PKR, BERSATU, and PBM — between 2020 and 2022. She lost her Ampang seat at GE15 in November 2022, polling only 4.39% of votes cast under the PBM banner and forfeiting her deposit.

Biography

Datuk Zuraida binti Kamaruddin (born 14 March 1958 in Singapore) is a Malaysian politician who served as Member of Parliament for Ampang, Selangor, from March 2008 to November 2022 [1]. She held three consecutive terms representing the constituency under the Pakatan Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) banner before a series of party transitions that defined her later career [1]. Prior to politics, Zuraida built a career in the private sector from 1980, holding positions at Frank Small & Associates (Australia) and Chuo Senko Advertising (Japan), and later working with firms including AIA, Saatchi & Saatchi, and AVON (M) Berhad [1]. In 1998 she became a training and motivational consultant [1]. She joined PKR in May 2007, rising to Women Chief and later Vice-President of the party [1]. She was appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 2018, and again under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin [1]. Following her expulsion from PKR in February 2020 — connected to the political realignment known as the 'Sheraton Move' — she joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) and was thereafter appointed Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob [1]. In May 2022 she left BERSATU and officially joined Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), where she was appointed president-designate [2]. She contested GE15 in November 2022 under PBM for the Ampang seat but lost, garnering only 4.39% of votes cast and forfeiting her deposit [3]. She was subsequently expelled from PBM in late December 2022 after failing to respond to a party show-cause letter [1].

Known for

Zuraida Kamaruddin is known for holding the Ampang parliamentary seat for three consecutive terms (2008–2022) under PKR, and for being one of the key figures associated with the February 2020 political realignment — widely referred to as the 'Sheraton Move' — that brought down the Pakatan Harapan government [2]. She also served as Minister of Housing and Local Government and subsequently as Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities across three successive administrations [1]. Her frequent party changes — from PKR to BERSATU to PBM within roughly two years — drew significant public and media attention [4].

Political positions

During her tenure as Minister of Housing and Local Government (2018–2020), Zuraida championed policies aimed at improving conditions for the B40 group, including the National Community Policy (NCP) designed to empower low-income communities living in People's Housing Projects (PPR) [3]. She also oversaw the introduction of designated smoking zones near eateries as a transitional measure alongside Malaysia's restaurant smoking ban [5]. As Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities (2021–2022), she promoted community eucalyptus plantation programmes to generate rural income and boost timber exports, stating that Malaysian wood products were competitive internationally [6]. She has expressed a multiracial political outlook, citing this as a key reason for joining PBM — a party she described as a better fit for her grassroots multiracial base compared to BERSATU's more ethnically focused membership [4]. She has also been publicly active on women's empowerment issues, serving as an advisor to the Selangor Women Empowerment Institute (IWB) and as president of the Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders (Comwel) [1][7].

Before politics

1. 1980Began private-sector career at Frank Small & Associates in Australia as Qualitative Study Manager, before progressing to Chuo Senko Advertising (Japan) as Marketing Research and Account Planning Manager.⛓
2. 1980s–1990sWorked with American International Assurance (AIA), Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising, AVON (M) Berhad, and Flaireborne (M) Sdn Bhd.⛓
3. 1998Became a training and motivational consultant, advising companies including Petronas, Oriflame, Nutrimetics, and Shinetsu in Texas.⛓

Political career

1. May 2007Joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and was appointed Women Chief of the party, a position she held until November 2018.⛓
2. March 2008Won the Ampang parliamentary seat in GE12 representing PKR, defeating incumbent Rozaidah Talib with a majority of 3,676 votes.⛓
3. May 2013Successfully defended the Ampang seat in GE13 under PKR, increasing her majority to 13,278 votes.⛓
4. May 2018Won Ampang for a third consecutive term under PKR/Pakatan Harapan (PH) in GE14 with a majority of 41,956 votes; subsequently appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government under PM Mahathir Mohamad.⛓
5. November 2018Elected Vice-President of PKR at the party elections, having previously served as Women Chief since May 2007.⛓
6. February 2020Expelled from PKR alongside Azmin Ali following the 'Sheraton Move' political realignment. She and nine other MPs subsequently joined BERSATU, precipitating the collapse of the PH government.⛓
7. March 2020Re-appointed Minister of Housing and Local Government under incoming Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's Perikatan Nasional administration.⛓
8. August 2021Appointed Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's Barisan Nasional administration.⛓
9. May 2022Officially left BERSATU and announced her entry into Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM); was subsequently appointed PBM president-designate in June 2022.⛓
10. 19 November 2022Contested GE15 under PBM for the Ampang seat for a fourth time; lost to PH's Rodziah Ismail, finishing fourth with only 4,589 votes (4.39%) and forfeiting her election deposit.⛓
11. Late December 2022Expelled from PBM by the party's disciplinary committee after failing to respond to a show-cause letter from PBM president Larry Sng.⛓

Election history

• 2022AmpangLost4.39%⛓
• 2018AmpangWon⛓
• 2013AmpangWon⛓
• 2008AmpangWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• OppositionMalaysiakini reported that PKR described Zuraida's departure as a breach of a signed party bond, and the party subsequently sued her for RM10 million, arguing she had agreed to pay the sum if she left PKR after winning a seat on the party's ticket.⛓
• GovernmentPBM president Larry Sng, upon Zuraida's official entry into PBM in June 2022, expressed hope that she would be retained in Cabinet as Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities and stated that PBM's grassroots, political bureau and supreme council had agreed for her to drive the party's development.⛓
• PublicMalay Mail reported that some Ampang voters in November 2022 recognised Zuraida's constituency presence, with one resident noting she 'frequently visits the constituency' and 'does her work as an MP', though others were unaware she had switched parties.⛓
• VerifiedFactsZuraida served as MP for Ampang across three consecutive terms (GE12–GE14, 2008–2022) and held Cabinet positions in three successive administrations. She lost GE15 under PBM with 4.39% of votes, forfeiting her deposit. She was subsequently expelled from PBM in December 2022.⛓