KUALA LUMPUR: Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has rebuffed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's criticisms of "cherry-picking" the anti-hopping law.
In a Facebook post, Muhyiddin denied cherry-picking the law in criticising the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's decision on the status of six former Bersatu members of Parliament (MP) who announced their support for Anwar.
"Article 49A of the Federal Constitution clearly states that the seat of any MP who ceases to be a party member must be vacated.
"In line with this, Bersatu amended its party constitution to include a clause that would see an elected representative ceasing to be a party member if they fail to abide by the Supreme Council's instructions."
He said letters were sent to the six MPs instructing them to withdraw support for Anwar as prime minister as it went against the party's policies and the mandate of the people who elected them.
"If they withdrew support within the stipulated time frame, they would remain members and MPs.
"That is the spirit of the Article 49A of the Federal Constitution."
However, Muhyiddin said the six MPs ignored the party's orders and this was why they ceased to be members in line with Article 10.4 of Bersatu's constitution.
The Pagoh MP said this was why their seats should be vacated.
"I understand the law," he said, claiming Anwar was the one who did not understand the law.