Tanah Merah MP Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz will not be appealing his recent suspension from Bersatu, insisting that he will continue to represent Perikatan Nasional in addressing issues faced by his constituents.
Noting that he had secured the Tanah Merah parliamentary seat during the 15th general election while contesting under a PAS banner, Ikmal said he has “no problem” with Bersatu’s directive stripping him of all party positions and barring him from making any statements in the party’s name.
“I am still a PN MP… I will continue to carry out my responsibilities and speak up as well as fight for the plight of Tanah Merah residents and the nation in the name of PN,” he said in a statement today.
Explaining his decision not to appeal against his suspension from the party, Ikmal argued that the offences he was accused of committing are “questionable”.
“What is my mistake in attending a programme organised by individuals who have been suspended and expelled, when it was a show of sympathy for comrades-in-arms?
“Similarly, I was found guilty of attending the Reset Aidilfitri programme - I am puzzled as to why attending such a ceremony aimed at strengthening ties and celebrating Aidilfitri is considered an offence?” he queried.
On May 8, Bersatu launched another internal crackdown, expelling at least two assemblypersons and suspending the memberships of six others, including Ikmal, with immediate effect.
Ikmal said the notice he received from Bersatu disciplinary board chairperson Radzi Manan cited a violation of the party’s constitution, with the opposition lawmaker having received a show-cause letter on April 29 after a complaint was lodged.
He said the complaint the board received on April 20 referenced his attendance at events associated with former opposition chief Hamzah Zainudin, who was sacked from Bersatu for allegedly trying to topple party president Muhyiddin Yassin and tarnishing the party’s image.
READ MORE: Sacked Hamzah returns to UM alumni clubhouse with 'reset' plans
Adding that he will announce his political direction when the time comes, Ikmal said that while Bersatu had opted to suspend him for two of the party’s election terms, it is his constituents who will determine his future.
“I will still contest (in elections) if the people of Tanah Merah continue to support me, even if it is no longer under Bersatu’s banner,” he said.
Another suspended representative, Chenderoh assemblyperson Syed Lukman Hakim Syed Zin, lamented Bersatu’s lack of “open, fair, and transparent” processes prior to the disciplinary action.
“If I truly committed a major offence, why was I only suspended (instead of being) immediately sacked?
“If I am truly at fault and if Bersatu has dignity, I challenge Bersatu to just sack me immediately, not merely suspend me to cover up the weaknesses of their own leadership,” he added in a statement today.
Not interested in Umno
Sungai Tiang assemblyperson Abdul Razak Khamis, who was sacked from Bersatu during the latest purge, also reportedly opted to decline Umno’s outreach efforts in favour of a new political “home” affiliated with Hamzah.
According to Free Malaysia Today, Razak, who is also the Kedah state assembly deputy speaker, said that besides being unaligned with Umno, he and other leaders punished by Bersatu will announce their backing of a new party under PN soon.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki yesterday issued an open invitation to several Bersatu leaders who were hit with disciplinary action to join the BN linchpin, noting that Umno was prepared to receive them with no conditions. - Mkini
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