PKR Women polls: Voon advises Kuantan MP to retract her ‘Pak Turut’ remark

Voon (left) speaking to reporters as Nurhanim (right) looks on.

KUCHING, August 6: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) National Women vice-chief Voon Shiak Ni today advised Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh to withdraw her ‘Pak Turut’ (bootlicker) statement when describing PKR Women under the leadership of Zuraida Kamaruddin.

Voon said the statement was “uncalled for” and a “personal attack” against Zuraida. Fuziah is vying for the Women’s chief post in the party’s election scheduled for next month.

“It is a great disappointment that Fuziah started her campaign with personal attacks on the present leadership, which is uncalled for,” said Voon, adding it was “not professional” and “unfair” too.

She said the PKR leadership had always encouraged its members to promote good culture and maturity, and Fuziah’s name calling was offensive as Zuraida was not a ‘Pak Turut’ in any sense of the word.

Zuraida had brought the PKR Women wing to another level and had done well in promoting the cause of women not only within the party but in the country as well, she added.

“I am proud of the first thing she did when she was made a minister; she called for all local councils to put at least 30 per cent women in the councils. And we see some states have been filling 50 per cent women into their councils.

“She (Zuraida) leads by walking her talk and this is self-explanatory, what with her past decades of commitment to the party, the people and the community she served,” opined Voon.

In reminding Fuziah to exercise due care and to refrain from getting personal during the course of party elections, Voon stressed that the party needed to safeguard its image.

“Let us all campaign the healthy way by highlighting our strengths and what we can offer to bring our party and members forward. This should not only be for our party but for the nation, as well,” she said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak PKR Women congratulated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being elected party president uncontested. Its chief, Nurhanim Mokshen, said Sarawak PKR Women had always stood by Anwar.

Nurhanim said her members were also standing behind incumbent Deputy President Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, who is defending his post. The same goes for Zuraida, who is defending her post. — DayakDaily