KUALA LUMPUR, July 11 — The decision not to declare vacant six parliamentary seats held by ex-Bersatu members was made after the matter was thoroughly studied, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said.
He said he is not a postman who sends letters back and forth between parliamentarians, and in this case, to declare the unexpected seat vacancies only based on Bersatu’s notice about the six lawmakers, who have been stripped of their memberships.
Johari said he had explained his decision in a letter dated July 9 sent to Bersatu chief whip and Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee.
“I want to make it clear that I am not a postman. When I receive something, (a notice) like the one mentioned by Beluran, I will make sure I study all the aspects.
“I made the decision, and my decision remains as I have informed Beluran, that there are no seat vacancies,” he said.
In his letter to Kiandee on his decision relating to Bersatu’s notice, Johari said the directives under Clause 10.5 of the Bersatu constitution are contrary to the Federal Constitution.
He said the party’s constitution denies the rights of MPs as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders and the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.
Regarding the decision not to declare the Labuan seat vacant, Johari, in a separate letter, said he did not want to prejudice the interests of parties involved in the ongoing court case, as Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman has filed a suit against Bersatu in the Shah Alam High Court.
Apart from Suhaili, the other five MPs are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
Earlier, Kiandee raised Standing Order 99 of the Dewan Rakyat to seek clarification from Johari on the latter’s decision on seat statuses of the former Bersatu MPs, who pledged support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut) disputed the decision, saying the membership status of the six MPs was up to the party, not the Speaker.
“Just let them (six MPs) fight us (Bersatu) in court … on whether they are still Bersatu members. It is not your (Speaker) duty to say,” Hamzah said.
— Bernama
