KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat speaker will trigger a “constitutional crisis” if he fails to declare seat vacancies for six former Bersatu MPs after the Kelantan speaker declared the Nenggiri seat officially vacant earlier today, a party leader said.
Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan said Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul must ensure uniformity between the Dewan Rakyat and the Kelantan assembly in implementing anti-party hopping laws.
“I’m sure Johari understands and is aware that he has no choice but to declare the six seats in the Dewan Rakyat as vacant.
“If this precedent (by Kelantan) is not respected nor followed with uniformity, there may be a serious constitutional crisis as a result,” Wan Saiful said in a statement.
He said Johari, as the Dewan Rakyat speaker, should uphold the independence of legislative bodies and their freedom from the influence of political parties.
Wan Saiful, who is Tasek Gelugor MP, was commenting on the official vacancy for the Nenggiri seat declared by Kelantan Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah earlier today.
Amar said the seat was declared vacant after receiving notices on the termination of its elected representative Mohd Azizi Abu Naim’s membership from Bersatu.
Article 31A of the Kelantan constitution deems a seat in the legislative assembly vacant if the assemblyman resigns or is expelled from his party.
Azizi, who is also Gua Mustang MP, had declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but did not leave Bersatu.
He and six MPs from the Bersatu were recently stripped of their memberships after they failed to obey a directive to declare loyalty to the party.
With this, Bersatu is attempting to have them vacate their seats.
The federal anti-hopping law does not require a seat vacancy if an elected representative is expelled by their party. However, a seat becomes vacant if a lawmaker resigns or ceases to be a member of the party.
Other MPs from Bersatu who supported Anwar and have had their memberships terminated are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang MP), Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang MP), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar MP), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan MP), and Zahari Kechik (Jeli MP).
Selat Klang assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, also had his Bersatu membership terminated for supporting Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, meanwhile, thanked Amar for declaring the Nenggiri seat vacant, saying it showed the effectiveness of the amendments to the party’s constitution to terminate memberships of those who went against the party.
Responding to Amar’s announcement, Azizi told Scoop he planned to fight the matter in court. – June 19, 2024