Hamzah: Bersatu duo's removal an abuse of power

 

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the removal of assemblypersons Khalid Mahtab Ishaq and Zolkifly Lazim from the Penang state assembly was an abuse of power.

In a statement, Hamzah (above) said the duo had never resigned from Bersatu nor did they join another political party and hence, Article 14A of the Penang state constitution could not be applied.

"The Penang legislative assembly's decision to vacate their seats is a clear abuse of power. Moreover, this is an insult to democracy and a violation of the law.

"The rights of the voters are being denied. The Penang state assembly is robbing the voters of their rights," said Hamzah.

Earlier today, the Penang legislative assembly passed a motion to vacate four seats held by Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Aceh), Khaliq (Bertam) and Zolkifly (Teluk Bahang).

The four won their seats under a PKR ticket in 2018. At the time, Afif and Zulkifli were PKR members and Khaliq and Zolkifly were Bersatu members.

In 2020, Afif and Zulkifli joined Bersatu while Khaliq and Zolkifly withdrew support for Pakatan Harapan's Chow Kon Yeow to be chief minister.

Khaliq eventually became the Penang legislative assembly opposition leader.

In December last year, the Federal Court ruled against the quartet's application to declare Article 14A null and void.

Meanwhile, Hamzah said Bersatu will appeal against a Penang High Court's decision to dismiss a lawsuit by the four former Bersatu assemblypersons.

"We believed that the court had erred in interpreting Article 14A and thus, Bersatu will file an appeal," he said.

The Penang High Court had dismissed a suit brought by the four against the Penang legislative assembly and Speaker Law Choo Kiang over a motion introduced in October 2020 for them to vacate their seats.

The court ruled that it cannot decide on the motion against them because it does not have jurisdiction over the state assembly. - Mkini