'Bersatu 4 were party members when they contested under GRS'

 

Perikatan Nasional's Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal has hit back at the exodus of several Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) leaders from the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition.

In an interview with BFM radio today, Wan Fayhsal (above) expressed the coalition’s disappointment at GRS, claiming that GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor had previously won his state seat under the PN coalition’s banner.

“Of course, we are disappointed. Because of us, he won and became chief minister of Sabah,” he said, referring to Hajiji.

When asked to clarify his comment, the Bersatu Youth chief stated that the candidates had won under the PN ticket.

Responding to questions on the strength of GRS’ local machinery, the Machang MP said that the GRS candidates were “Bersatu first”.

GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor

“Of course, but remember the brand (and), logo and they are Bersatu first before they became what they are today, so from Bersatu’s point-of-view, we are disappointed with Hajiji because basically, it is about himself retaining (his role) as chief minister.

“That is what he’s trying to do now. We cannot stop them, they made their move. We have to express our disappointment with what happened in Sabah,” said Wan Fayhsal.

On how the anti-hopping law would affect the leaders that had left, the Bersatu man said the coalition plans to deliver a letter to the upcoming Dewan Rakyat Speaker to explain the matter – once elected to office on Dec 19.

“We have to wait and see how the new Speaker shall react to it.

“We will write a letter to the Speaker to explain our position with regard to the four MPs who used to be Bersatu members - which they are now claiming (that) they are direct members of GRS.

“I’m not sure if they backdated or what… As far as we know, they were Bersatu members when they contested under GRS,” Wan Fayhsal stated.

Although GRS is known publicly as a coalition of five parties, in the eyes of the Registrar of Societies and the Election Commission, it is a normal political party.

GRS was formally registered on March 11. As a coalition, GRS fielded 12 candidates for the Nov 19 election of which six were successful.

Immediately after the election, GRS initially pledged allegiance to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin to serve as prime minister but their support wavered just five days later - after PKR president Anwar Ibrahim secured the top job.

It took until Dec 10 for a group of 15 GRS assemblypersons and four MPs to publicly declare that they were "exiting" Bersatu.

This had led to claims that the four newly elected MPs have triggered the "anti-hopping laws” in Article 49A of the Federal Constitution and will have to vacate their seats.

Today, a candidate for the 15th general election confirmed that he and 11 other candidates had discreetly signed up as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) members in October.

This meant that their membership in Bersatu has been automatically terminated under Clause 10.2.3 of the party's constitution, even before the Nov 19 election.

But the matter was kept away from public knowledge. - Mkini