KUALA LUMPUR – Incumbent Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal is prepared to defend his parliamentary seat if the Dewan Rakyat speaker decides to call for a by-election there.
Despite not knowing Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s decision, Syed Abu Hussin, along with five other Bersatu MPs whose party memberships were revoked, said that the seat doesn’t need to be vacated, according to Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.
He said he submitted a response to the speaker’s notice on Friday, following another notice by Bersatu, and that the decision will be made during the current parliamentary session.
“I have full confidence after the speaker reads the details of my response. We do not know his decision, but I am ready to defend my seat if there is a by-election.
“We sent the response on Friday. We had no discussions or feedback with the speaker; he only accepted our statement and explanation in the letter.
“Maybe in the three weeks of Parliament, he will make the necessary ruling,” Syed Abu Hussin said during a press conference at Bukit Gantang today.
When asked if he would be contesting independently, Syed Abu Hussin said he would address the matter if a vacancy arose.
“I will answer that when the seat is vacated, but it hasn’t happened yet,” he said.
“I have not considered offers to join other parties because I do not want to engage in political games. My focus is on serving the people.”
Syed Abu Hussin said that the reasons in his letter were clear as they were based on Article 49A of the constitution.
“In terms of the constitution, our rights as parliamentarians, and our rights in Dewan Rakyat, we are in no way guilty of this issue,” he said.
“Even so, it seems as if our party had incited our constituents to oppose us.
“This is a matter that I explained in my letter and at the conference today, so the people can understand that we are not traitors, but we want to develop the nation and help our constituents.”
Syed Abu Hussin also expressed confidence that the speaker would independently form a decision, and would not be influenced by the decisions of state legislative assembly speakers.
“The (state legislative assembly) speakers have their own power, it is up to (him) to make a decision based on his own arguments and not be influenced by state assemblies.
“As is the right to bring the case to court; both parties (the MP and party) have the right to do so if dissatisfied (by the decision),” he said.
He also claimed that the by-election would only waste time and incur high costs. – June 30, 2024