PETALING JAYA: Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has accused Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin of not telling the full story on the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s decision not to vacate the parliamentary seats of six former Bersatu members.
Fahmi said he had sighted Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul’s letter to Bersatu and claimed Muhyiddin omitted certain details during a press conference earlier today.
“Muhyiddin only told half of the story. He did not mention the entirety (of the basis for the speaker’s decision) on the Federal Constitution.
“I believe that the speaker thoroughly studied the matter and that his decision has basis,” said Fahmi, who is the communications minister, without elaborating further.
The PKR information chief said Muhyiddin only had himself to blame since Bersatu opposed a proposed clause under the anti-hopping law for a seat to be declared vacant if an MP went against the party stance or failed to comply with the party whip in the Dewan Rakyat.
“Maybe they previously had plans to (get government MPs) to withdraw support (for the unity government), but it came back to bite them,” he said.
Earlier, Muhyiddin told a press conference that Johari had decided not to vacate the seats held by six MPs who recently ceased to be members of Bersatu.
They are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
The six had pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year.
Muhyiddin, the Bersatu president, accused Johari of violating the Federal Constitution and said the party would challenge his decision in court.
Article 49A of the constitution states that MPs’ seats must be vacated if they are no longer members of a political party after having been elected to the Dewan Rakyat as members of the said party.
Previously, Kelantan state assembly speaker Amar Abdullah declared the Nenggiri seat, held by Azizi, as vacant, with a by-election slated for Aug 17. - FMT
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