6 Bersatu MPs, state rep to know fate after Kuala Kubu Baharu polls

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said any action taken will be in compliance with the law.

PETALING JAYA: The membership status of the six Bersatu MPs who support Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will be made known after the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, says party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin.

He said a notice will be issued to the rebel MPs after a Supreme Council meeting, which has been postponed to allow the party to focus on the May 11 by-election, Utusan Malaysia reported.

According to Hamzah, the notice will inform them of the decision made on their membership status for having pledged their support for Anwar and the unity government.

He said a similar notice would be issued to the Bersatu assemblyman in Selangor who declared his support for menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

“A committee has been established to carefully examine the course of action.

“We will ensure that any action taken is in compliance with the law. We will convene a Supreme Council meeting to validate such action.

“With the approval of the Supreme Council, I will send the notices to the six MPs and the assemblyman involved. I will also send a copy to all our other elected representatives,” he was quoted as saying by the daily.

The six Bersatu MPs are Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

They justified their support for the federal government by citing the needs of their constituents. However, they said they would remain loyal to Bersatu.

Last month, Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari voiced support for Amirudin, citing the same reasons as the MPs.

Previously, Bersatu information chief Razali Idris said the six MPs and the assemblyman should vacate their seats without waiting for their formal dismissal letters as their membership had been terminated upon the Registrar of Societies’ approval of Bersatu’s constitutional amendment.

On April 2, RoS approved an amendment to the party’s constitution which will allow it to automatically revoke the membership of its elected representatives if they go against the party’s stand.

The move was in response to the six MPs pledging their support for Anwar’s leadership without leaving the party, enabling them to circumvent a provision in the Federal Constitution that would have required them to vacate their seats.