KUALA LUMPUR: The six Bersatu 'rebels' have received a letter with specific directives to respond to within 14 days from today.
Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, however, did not reveal what the specific directives were.
"Failure to comply with the directives will cause the six to cease being members of the party, and their status as members of parliament is automatically dropped.
"Once they read the letter, they should know what needs to be done, so you can go meet them (and ask what the contents of the directive letters are," he told a press conference today.
Hamzah said the letters, dated today, were delivered to the six via e-mail, courier and by hand.
The six in question are Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), who had declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration.
Last week, Bersatu said it would serve notices to these seven MPs and Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari - who also declared their support for the unity government, compelling them to vacate their parliamentary and state seats next week.
Abdul Rashid became the seventh Bersatu elected representative to declare his support for the unity government.
Meanwhile, the party also sent letters to all its elected representatives for all of them to affirm their undivided support and loyalty to the party.
Hamzah said the directives given were for them to understand that as party members, they are responsible under the party constitution to stay loyal to it and support its policies, goals, and aims.
"Secondly, we want them to know that the Bersatu leadership has made the decision not to support or join the government led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Prime Minister; and that we also will not support any menteri besar or chief minister or join any state government that is not agreed by the party.
"Fourth, the president has said clearly that Perikatan Nasional will play its role as a reliable opposition to bring the voice of the people to Parliament, and ensure the integrity and corruption-free administration of the government.
"Article 49(A) of the Federal Constitution and other similar provisions in the state constitution on anti-party hopping have been undermined by the MPs or assemblymen when they stated their support to the leadership of the opposing party."
Hamzah, who is Larut MP and opposition leader, reiterated that their act of declaring support for Anwar had "belittled" the amendments to the Federal Constitution, which should be considered as sacrosanct.