You don’t need 3 weeks to decide on Bersatu 6’s fate, Speaker told

Bersatu information chief Razali Idris (left) said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul should not take the full 21 days allowed to decide on the fate of the six Bersatu MPs.

PETALING JAYA: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul has been urged to expedite his decision on the fate of the six Bersatu MPs who ceased to be party members earlier this month.

Bersatu information chief Razali Idris said while Johari has the right to deliberate, the Speaker need not take the full 21 days allowed.

“There’s no need to take 21 days. Simply uphold democracy, enforce the anti-hopping law, and return the mandate to the people. Whether the involved MPs take the matter to court is another issue,” he told FMT.

“The situation is clear since the Registrar of Societies has approved Bersatu’s constitutional amendments.”

Razali said when the MPs failed to comply with the Supreme Council’s instructions to declare their loyalty according to Bersatu’s amended party constitution, their membership was automatically terminated.

“We understand the Speaker has just received the letter and might need some time, but a week or two should suffice to make a decision,” he said.

Yesterday, Johari confirmed receiving Bersatu chief whip Ronald Kiandee’s notice last Friday on the six terminated Bersatu MPs and called for patience. He said he has “up to 21 days” to decide.

Kiandee had contended that Johari had no choice but to declare the six seats vacant and inform the Election Commission (EC) on the need for by-elections, as a precedent had been set by the Kelantan assembly speaker last week with the Nenggiri state seat.

The EC will meet this Friday to decide on a by-election date for the Nenggiri seat, but Azizi Abu Naim, who is the incumbent assemblyman, had filed a suit at the High Court challenging his “sacking” from Bersatu as well as the vacancy of the seat.

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

They had declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim last year.

Meanwhile, Bersatu notified Selangor state assembly speaker Lau Weng San last Friday that Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari had ceased to be a member of the party.

Rashid declared support for Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari earlier this year.