KUALA LUMPUR (July 11): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday said that Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul had acted in accordance with the constitutional and legal interpretations when deciding that six former members of Bersatu would retain their parliamentary seats.
Anwar said that Johari had also thoroughly read and interpreted the relevant laws, and this should be clearly understood by the Bersatu party leadership.
He said this is because Bersatu had, during discussions about the anti-party hopping law, opposed the provision that anyone expelled from their respective party would automatically lose their seats.
“We know because we were in the opposition then, and we wanted to ensure that the provision was included, that whoever expelled would automatically lose their seats. But they (Bersatu) opposed it. It is all on record,” Anwar told reporters after attending the Global Madani Forum 2024 here on Thursday.
The two-day forum themed 'Catalysing The Next Civilisational Revival' was also attended by Johari, Religious Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
Anwar said that although he did not participate in the discussions, he was aware that they were attended by government representatives, including then minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and law) Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, while Pakatan Harapan led by Anwar was represented by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
Saifuddin is now the home minister, and Loke the transport minister.
When asked if Johari’s decision could backfire on the government if MPs withdraw their support for the government without worrying about losing their seats, Anwar reiterated that “it is all subject to the law”.
“It is not subject to the PM. It is subject to the constitutional and legal interpretations. So, we shall leave that to the speaker,” he said.
On Wednesday, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that the party had received a notification letter dated July 9 from the Dewan Rakyat speaker that there are no vacancies of parliamentary seats involving six former Bersatu members who had pledged support to Anwar.
The six rogue MPs are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
On June 20, Bersatu chief whip Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said that the party had submitted notices to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's Office on the status of the six MPs, whose membership had been revoked by the party, in accordance with Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.
The six MPs were served with the notice of immediate termination of party membership on June 12, after failing to respond to a notice to confirm their loyalty to Bersatu.
In a statement, Muhyiddin expressed disappointment with the speaker's decision, as the Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council had already terminated the party membership of the six individuals, and that they can no longer represent Bersatu in the Dewan Rakyat.
He said Bersatu would engage a legal expert to take the appropriate course of action following the notification.
Meanwhile, Anwar described Muhyiddin as just “telling half of the story”.
“I don’t know why he opted to tell half of the story and leave out the other half. Maybe that is Bersatu’s political method. Like the BlackRock issue, they only tell half and leave out the other half. That’s not right. It has to be read in full," Anwar said.
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Former Bersatu MPs retain their seats
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