KUALA LUMPUR – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul will approve the requests by four Bersatu lawmakers to change their seats in Parliament, following their decision to pledge their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Johari confirmed he had received written requests from the MPs today, expressing his understanding for their decision and assuring a smooth reseating process.
“I will ensure they are relocated to seats where they feel more comfortable. Understanding their sentiments, I aim for a win-win situation and strive to be a good judge,” he told a press conference today.
Having previously accommodated a similar seat change for Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Johari emphasised that such adjustments fall outside the purview of the anti-hopping law.
“I plan to arrange an unofficial meet-up, possibly during Deepavali, to discuss the requests of the four MPs,” he added.
The four Bersatu MPs – Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), and Zahari Kechik (Jeli) – recently declared support for Anwar, while affirming their loyalty to Bersatu.
Earlier, Johari clarified that the MPs’ support pledges do not trigger any anti-hopping laws as long as they remain within their party. Stressing the right of MPs to express political allegiances, he stated that the act only applies when an MP officially switches parties.
“The anti-hopping law comes into play only when an MP officially quits and joins another party. Their support for Anwar, within their existing party, is within their rights,” he explained.
Johari dismissed concerns about potential shifts in parliamentary dynamics, asserting that a collective party move is required to see a change in administration.
“Support for the prime minister is only affected when every MP in a party pledges support to the other side en bloc, altering the majority,” he added. – November 9, 2023