Zuraida Kamaruddin, who was named housing and local government minister yesterday in the Pakatan Harapan government, has said that equal housing opportunity for bumiputera in urban areas is among the matters that will be given attention by the ministry during her tenure.

Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, said she would also pay attention to the rights of minorities, indigenous peoples, and non-citizens to enjoy comfortable housing facilities.

“Alhamdulillah, I humbly and gratefully accept the appointment as a cabinet minister of Malaysia.

“Now, I have the opportunity to really look into all the policies of the ministry. I’m sure that a lot of improvements and substantive ideas can been implemented,” she said in a statement.

Zuraida, 60, who is also Wanita Pakatan Harapan chief, also anticipated a reform in safe and gender-neutral municipal services, while community empowerment would be given emphasis in line with the rapid pace of change in the country.

Born on March 14, 1958, Zuraida pursued her Bachelor’s in social sciences in Singapore and in advanced marketing studies in Taiwan.

She began her career as the qualitative research manager at Frank Small & Associates, Australia, in 1980, before moving to Chuo Senko Advertising in Japan in 1987 as marketing research and account planning manager.

Zuraida is also the founder and chairperson of Wirda, a community service centre providing counselling and protection to women.

In the 14th general election, Zuraida retained her Ampang parliamentary seat for the third term with 41,956-vote majority in a four-cornered fight.

Zuraida garnered 54,307 votes, defeating BN’s Leong Kim Soon, PAS’ Nurul Islam Mohamed Yusoff and PRM’s Tan Hua Meng.

- Bernama