LETTER | The Zuraida we know

LETTER | I write in response to the comment piece by R Nadeswaran, published by Malaysiakini today titled “To Afghanistan - with love from Malaysia.”

It was apparent from the onset of his commentary that Nadeswaran was not interested in commenting on the Afghanistan issue per se, but about using it as an excuse to take potshots at former minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

His article seems to reflect only his own personal dislike of Zuraida and her political allegiance. One has to scroll down many, many paragraphs after, just to read what he was trying to say.

In a nutshell, he accused Zuraida of not taking a stance against child marriages but instead talk of better opportunities for women and girls in Afghanistan.

If Nades had not been as ignorant as he has shown himself to be, he would have known the following:

1. Zuraida has been an activist for human rights for the past 20 years. She has been on several humanitarian missions to several countries, including Palestine and Afghanistan.

2. She has always fought against child marriages, including when she was in Pakatan Rakyat, Pakatan Harapan, and even in Perikatan Nasional.

3. She has also fought for stateless children and even adopted a stateless child so that she could pursue her studies in the university.

4. She also fought for the plight of the Penan women.

5. Besides the above, she also pushed for the Local Elections to be held.

6. She is also the president of the Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders and the ambassador to Malaysia for an international NGO known as Women Political Leaders.

7. She was also invited to speak on many occasions internationally, in different countries on humanitarian issues.

8. She was the one who empowered many women in Harapan. As the women wings’ chief, she built up the wing, pushed for the inclusion of a 30 percent women’s quota in PKR’s party constitution, and readied many qualified women as candidates for the general election.

Alas, in a party where the then-president and vice-president were both mother and daughter, they both failed to support the women candidates due to factionalism.

As a result, many women candidates were disregarded, and the party did not achieve the 30 percent women quota as touted in the party constitution.

What I would really like to point out, though, is that while the country is inundated with the current political uncertainties, Zuraida voiced out on an issue that has been close to her heart for decades - women and girls.

Zuraida has a genuine passion for helping those in need. Like what people say, if you do not know her, do not speak ill. She has never wavered on her fight for justice and equality before, but her work has always been hampered by naysayers like Nadeswaran and the likes.

Despite being at risk of being scorned, Zuraida said what she truly believed in, straight from her heart. And that is the Zuraida we know, always straight to the point and painfully truthful, without all the twists and turns.

Love her or hate her, that is Zuraida.

Sadly, Nadeswaran comes across as an irresponsible writer, adamant on his biased views, which he never cared to cross-check for facts. Indeed, if we do not call out on such opinion writers, we will be failing in our duty for checks and balances.

CAROLYN KHOR is the Penang head and chief secretariat of the Council of Malaysian Women Political Leaders.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.