‘Cowards’, Razali slams 7 Bersatu reps for disputing notice

 

Bersatu information chief Razali Idris said the membership of the seven elected representatives will be terminated if they do not respond to the notices within two weeks.

PETALING JAYA: Bersatu information chief Razali Idris has slammed the party’s seven elected representatives who support the federal and Selangor governments, describing them as “cowards” for disputing the validity of the notices issued to them.

“Cowards will always find issues to raise,” Razali told FMT.

“But it is clear they have 14 days to respond to the notices. If they do not, their membership will be terminated.”

Earlier today,  the seven – six MPs and an assemblyman – had claimed that there were technical issues which could potentially invalidate the notices sent to them.

Bersatu issued notices to all its elected representatives on May 17, requiring them to confirm their loyalty to the party within 14 days.

Party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said failure to respond within this period would result in their membership being revoked.

The six MPs who declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari also declared support for Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

According to the Malay daily, they argued that the party’s Supreme Council meeting, which decided their fate, was invalid because of the attendance of non-members, specifically Kuang assemblyman Rafiq Abdullah and Lepar assemblyman Yazid Yunus.

Citing Clause 2 of the party’s constitution, they questioned the legitimacy of Rafiq and Yazid’s membership for not falling within the definition of “ordinary members”, that is, “Malaysians who are pribumi, aged 18 and above”.

They claimed that Rafiq and Yazid are of Indian Muslim and Punjabi descent, respectively.

They also claimed that an amendment to the party’s constitution, which added “or Malaysian citizens of the Islamic faith” to the definition of “ordinary members” was made without approval from the Registrar of Societies or discussion in any meetings.

Razali dismissed their claims, saying that “traitors have no right to comment on definitions in the party’s constitution”.

“If they have any courage at all, they should vacate their seats to make way for by-elections to be held,” he said. - FMT