Wrong to make speaker the punching bag in ‘Bersatu 6’ controversy, Akmal told

 

PKR Youth communications director Haziq Azfar said Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has yet to condemn Bersatu for the controversy surrounding the six MPs who declared support for the government.

PETALING JAYA: 

A PKR Youth leader has taken Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to task for making Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul the 

punching bag

 in the controversy surrounding six MPs from Bersatu who had declared support for the prime minister.

In a statement, Haziq Azfar said Johari’s decision not to vacate the seats of the MPs, who have ceased to be Bersatu members, was based on the anti-hopping law and compounded by the fact that the party failed to deal with a loophole in the act.

The PKR Youth communications director added that the decision was not something to be proud of, but said blaming the speaker was a form of 

persecution

 as Johari had only acted within the confines of the law.

With respect, Akmal has chosen the wrong person to be the punching bag. It should be Bersatu, not the speaker,

 he said.

Haziq added that Akmal had yet to condemn Bersatu, which he said was really to blame for undermining the anti-hopping law at the federal level.

Johari had decided against having the MPs vacate their seats in the interest of preserving 

stability in Parliament

.

The six MPs in question 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).

Last week, Akmal said Johari’s decision meant that the anti-hopping law passed in Parliament two years ago was all for nothing.

His PKR counterpart Adam Adli however said that Akmal had failed to comprehend the issue and should have referred to the facts as well as the stance of the unity government before criticising the decision. - FMT