“It was not discussed,” Hishammuddin said in a press conference here.

The defence minister was asked if the Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob had discussed Zuraida’s status as a minister following the Ampang MP’s exit from Bersatu.

Yesterday, Zuraida said only Ismail could decide on her fate as a Cabinet member, amid pressure from Bersatu for her to be immediately replaced after quitting the party.

She added that she was “on standby” to meet the prime minister this week over the matter, reiterating that she remained a minister until Ismail decides otherwise.

Zuraida had quit Bersatu last month to join the newly formed Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), though her former party president, Muhyiddin Yassin, said they knew she was involved in PBM all along.

Muhyiddin said he would submit the name of a candidate for the plantation industries and commodities portfolio to Ismail.