Bersatu's legal action threat an act of intimidation: MP

 

Bersatu’s threat of legal action against party MPs who pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is an act of intimidation, said Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim.

Azizi (above) is one of six Bersatu lawmakers who did so without quitting the party.

“To me, Bersatu’s decision to amend the party’s constitution to keep its elected representatives in line is merely to intimidate MPs who back Anwar,” he told Malaysiakini.

He was responding to Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin’s announcement yesterday that the party’s supreme council has agreed to pursue legal action against its lawmakers who support Anwar, to vacate their seats.

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Hamzah added that the party would also amend Article 10 of its constitution to prevent more of its representatives from switching support while still in the party.

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin

The six Bersatu MPs decided to back Anwar for the well-being of their constituents.

Besides Azizi, they are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

Syed Abu Hussin recently claimed that 10 more Perikatan Nasional lawmakers will declare their support for Anwar soon.

Questions on funding

Elaborating, Azizi said he had met with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and Hamzah before and after voicing support for the government, to talk about allocations for opposition lawmakers, especially those from Bersatu.

As such, the decision to back Anwar was expected, he said, adding that he was willing to face action from the party.

“Previously, Bersatu MPs raised questions about allocations, and asked about steps the party is taking to help its representatives assist their constituents, but the leadership did not seem earnest in upholding the party’s prestige.

“So I leave it to the party’s leadership to decide on the course of action to be taken against me and the other MPs who have backed PMX (Anwar),” he said.