Federal Court reserves decision on Zuraida’s RM10mil bond

The Federal Court has deferred its decision on PKR's demand for a RM10 million payment from former Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin, following the Court of Appeal's reduction to RM100,000. A three-judge panel consisting of Chief Justice Wan Ahmad Farid, Sabah and Sarawak chief judge Azizah Nawawi, and Justice Azmi Ariffin, has not set a ruling date.

PKR's legal representative, Ranjit Singh, contends that the RM10 million sum demanded by the High Court is reasonable, as Zuraida admitted that the value she gained from the party exceeded RM10 million, according to Bernama. He further argued that the bond's operative clause stipulates RM10 million as the payout if the bond is breached.

Singh also pointed out the political climate at the time, highlighting the Sheraton Move's contribution to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, as justification for the large sum. On the other hand, Zuraida's counsel, Azhar Harun, argued that there is no separate category of political contract exempt from Section 75 of the Contracts Act, which safeguards against penal or unconscionable contract clauses.

He asserted that a political party cannot exploit its position to evade statutory protections against penalty clauses. Harun also contended that there is an imbalance of power between the party and its candidates, emphasizing that the RM10 million bond was imposed as a condition of candidacy rather than negotiated freely. The Court of Appeal reduced the original RM10 million order to RM100,000 on Dec 11, 2024, although the original finding that Zuraida breached the bond remains intact. PKR plans to appeal the appellate court's decision on the same date.