KUALA LUMPUR – Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal says he remains an independent lawmaker despite getting the boot from Bersatu due to his public support from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Terminating my party membership does not mean my MP seat is vacated automatically. According to Article 49A(1) of the Federal Constitution, Bersatu has no right to force me to vacate my seat.
“I did not commit any offence that violated the Federal Constitution which requires the Dewan Rakyat speaker to vacate my seat,” Syed Hussin said in a statement today.
He also said the party’s latest amendments to its own constitution were “malicious” and violates the Federal Constitution, so were “constructive dismissal” dished out by the Bersatu supreme council.
“Even though I’m now an independent MP, I stand by my views that were conveyed to Bersatu president (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) and the leadership.
“The party and Perikatan Nasional (PN) should focus on the development of the Malay community rather than personal interests. It’s not too late for that.”
According to the Federal Constitution, an MP does not need to vacate his seat if:
– his political party’s registration is cancelled or the party is dissolved;
– he resigns from his political party upon election as Dewan Rakyat speaker; or
– he was expelled as a member of the political party.
Yesterday, Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the party issued termination notices to six representatives who were found violating Article 10.4 of the party constitution.
The decision follows the directive of the party’s supreme council, which convened on June 7, and was subsequently communicated to the PN leadership during their meeting on June 11.
Previously, six Bersatu MPs and one state assemblyman had their party memberships revoked after failing to respond to a written instruction from the party’s supreme leadership council to pledge allegiance to the party.
The six MPs are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tg Karang). The assemblyman is Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari (Selat Klang). – June 13, 2024