Bersatu EGM approves amendment to stop MPs defecting

Bersatu has successfully introduced an amendment to its party constitution today, aimed at preventing future ‘defections’ of its elected representatives.

The decision was made in an extraordinary general meeting held earlier this evening, where party delegates unanimously supported a motion to amend Article 10 of the Bersatu constitution.

The article stipulates matters of resignation and dismissal of party members.

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin told a press conference after the meeting that their plan to amend the constitution had gone smoothly.

Reiterating his speech when launching the event earlier, the Pagoh MP said they aimed to stop any Bersatu MP or state assemblyperson from “acting wild” and going against party policy.

He cited the recent actions by six Bersatu ‘turncoat’ MPs who pledged their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim while maintaining they are still loyal to the opposition party.

With the amendment to the party constitution, any Bersatu elected representative doing so in the future would automatically cease to be a member of the party, he said.

“When this happens, it will trigger the anti-hopping law per Article 49A of the Federal Constitution and their seats will be vacated.

“Then we will inform the Election Commission so a fresh election can be held,” Muhyiddin said.

Besides stopping future defections by its elected representatives, Bersatu will also seek to vacate the six MPs’ seats.

They are Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

According to Muhyiddin, Bersatu will first seek the approval of the Registrar of Societies for its resolution today before dealing with the six.

He said party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin will send an official letter to each of the six MPs asking them to state their position.

“Hamzah will write to them asking if they indeed support PMX (Anwar). If they say yes, then they will trigger (the constitutional provision and anti-hopping law), and thus would have to vacate their seats.

“Then we will inform the Election Commission,” he said.

Hamzah will then write to Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul to inform Parliament that the seats have been vacated, said Muhyiddin.