KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu will serve notice to seven party defectors who have pledged their support for the unity government, urging them to vacate their parliamentary and state seats after the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the party’s supreme council will convene after the by-election on May 11 to discuss next steps and actions against them, the New Straits Times reported.
“Based on the instructions of the party’s supreme council, we will hold a meeting immediately after (the polling day of) the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
“A day after the meeting, we will serve the six MPs who declared their support for the unity government with notice.
“We were supposed to hold the meeting at the nearest time, but we wanted to first focus on the by-election,” he told reporters after attending an Aidilfitri celebration for the Larut parliamentary constituency in Felda Ijok here.
The Bersatu MPs who have publicly stated their support for Anwar are Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).
The party’s Selat Klang assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, also announced his backing for Anwar’s government, claiming that his move was due to Perikatan Nasional’s silence amid accusations thrown at the Malay rulers.
When asked about the defectors’ move to switch support, Hamzah said: “I do not need to comment on their actions. Let them get trapped in their own psychological game.”
The Larut MP also said actions that will be taken against them will serve as a reminder and lesson to other Bersatu MPs and state assemblymen on the importance of party loyalty.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed yesterday that the party was in the process of taking action against party rebels according to the party’s amended constitution.
“We will comply with the procedures so that we make no mistakes. Those responsible must face whatever actions are taken against them,” Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan Nasional chairman, said.
In March, Bersatu sought to amend Article 10 of its constitution to automatically terminate the membership of elected representatives if they support any other party or policy not aligned with Bersatu’s position.
Muhyiddin previously said that once the Registrar of Societies approves the amendment, Bersatu would seek to vacate the six parliamentary seats currently held by MPs who remained in the party but had publicly supported Anwar and the unity government. – April 28, 2024