Bersatu sacks rogue Telok Mas assemblyperson

The Bersatu political bureau has sacked Telok Mas assemblyperson Noor Effandi Ahmad for defecting from the now-dissolved Malacca state government.

The politician was one of the four government lawmakers who withdrew support for former chief minister Sulaiman Md Ali on Oct 4.

The manoeuvre led Sulaiman to seek a dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly. This came into effect on Oct 5 and paved the way for a snap state election.

In a statement late last night, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin announced the sacking of Effandi (above) and the bureau’s stance on the coup.

“The Bersatu political bureau is of the view that the political crisis in Malacca needs to be resolved in accordance with the Malacca State Constitution and the Federal Constitution while taking into account the people’s interests.

“The bureau has also decided that Telok Mas assemblyperson Noor Effandi Ahmad has lost his membership, with immediate effect under Clause 10 of the Bersatu constitution.

“This decision will be confirmed at the next Bersatu supreme council meeting,” he said.

Bersatu disappointed with the defections

Hamzah added that the party was “disappointed” with the defections.

“The Bersatu political bureau is of the view that this political crisis stemmed from internal problems within a particular political party and this worsened when certain quarters took advantage (of the situation), without considering the people’s welfare and the country’s interests at a time when we are in the early stages of recovery,” he said.

Aside from Effandi, the three other assemblypersons who defected were Nor Azman Hassan (Pantai Kundur), Norhizam Hassan Baktee (Pengkalan Batu) and Idris Haron (Sungai Udang).

Sungai Udang assemblyperson Idris Haron

Idris, a former chief minister of Malacca, had led the coup against Sulaiman. Both are from Umno.

Idris had joined forces with 11 Pakatan Harapan assemblypersons to announce their lack of support for the chief minister.

After their coup got staved off, these assemblypersons cried foul over how the dissolution was done.

State Harapan chief Adly Zahari lamented that Sulaiman should not have advised Malacca Governor Ali Rustam to dissolve the State Legislative Assembly after the chief minister had lost his majority.

Adly also opined that Ali should not have dissolved the state assembly before others could prove their majority to him.

Harapan is also opposed to Sulaiman’s appointment as caretaker chief minister, contending the state secretary should be the one in charge until Sulaiman’s successor is named.

Ali has thus far refused to grant an audience to Harapan or the rogue assemblypersons.

The group will next take up their complaints with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. - Mkini