KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul acted in accordance with Constitutional and legal interpretations when deciding that six former Bersatu MPs would retain their seats.
Johari also thoroughly read and interpreted the relevant laws, and the Bersatu party leadership should clearly understand this.
He said this was because Bersatu, during the discussions about the (anti-party hopping) law, had opposed the provision that anyone expelled from their respective party would automatically lose their seats.
“We know because we were in the Opposition then, and we wanted to ensure that the provision is included, that whoever expelled would automatically lose their seats. But they opposed it. It is all on record,” Anwar told the press after attending the Global Madani Forum 2024 today.
The two-day forum, themed 'Catalysing The Next Civilisational Revival', was also attended by Johari, Religious Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir, and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.
The Prime Minister added that although he did not participate in the discussions, he was aware that they were attended by government representatives, including then-Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, while Pakatan Harapan was represented by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Anthony Loke.
When asked if Johari’s decision could backfire on the government if MPs withdraw their support from the government without worrying about losing their seats, Anwar reiterated that “it is all subject to the law”.
“It is not subject to (the) PM; it is subject to Constitutional and legal interpretations. So, we shall leave that to the Speaker,” he said.
Yesterday, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed that the party received a notification letter dated July 9 from the Dewan Rakyat Speaker stating that there are no vacancies in Parliamentary seats involving its six former members who pledged support to Anwar.
The six MPs are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
On June 20, Bersatu chief whip Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee said the party submitted notices to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's Office on the status of its six MPs, whose memberships the party has revoked in accordance with Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.
— Bernama
