‘Planned sacking’ of Bersatu MPs is not party-hopping, says Fahmi

 

The speaker of the Dewan Rakyat has announced that six MPs whose memberships of Bersatu were terminated do not have to vacate their seats.  (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Bersatu’s removal of six members – MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim – did not amount to party-hopping and the six MPs are not required to vacate their seats, government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said.

“If we examine what has happened, it is interpreted as a planned sacking,” he said at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting here.

The six MPs involved are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

Fahmi, who is communications minister, said the decision of the Dewan Rakyat speaker, that the six MPs would remain in their seats, was based on the Federal Constitution and legal interpretation.

“This adheres to the fundamental rules of parliamentary proceedings (the Dewan Rakyat’s Standing Order),” he said, adding that any criticism of the speaker’s decision is unfounded.

Fahmi said opposition politicians should stop portraying themselves as heroes in this matter. He said Bersatu had previously opposed amendments to the anti-hopping law when it was proposed by the then law minister.

If there was anyone to blame, it should be Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin, secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin and vice-president Radzi Jidin, said Fahmi.

“They were among those strongly against the amendments, which, if implemented, would have prevented the current situation,” he said.

“Now, they’re making noise in the Dewan Rakyat, but they were the ones who disagreed initially. (Alas), senjata makan tuan,” he said, citing the Malay proverb to describe resorting to actions that backfired.

Two days ago, Muhyiddin confirmed that Bersatu had received a letter from the speaker, Johari Abdul, stating that there were no vacancies in the parliamentary seats of the six former members who had pledged their support to Anwar.

On June 20, Bersatu chief whip Ronald Kiandee said the party had submitted notices to the speaker’s office on the status of the six MPs whose memberships have been revoked by the party.

The six MPs received notices of immediate party membership termination on June 12 after failing to respond to a notice to confirm their loyalty to the party. - FMT