KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has called for a point of order in the Dewan Rakyat today to seek further clarification from Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul over the decision made on the status of the party's six former members.
The call was made by Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, who requested an explanation from Johari regarding his decision not to vacate the six seats.
"I am calling for a point of order over the Speaker's interpretation regarding the final decision (on the six parliamentary seats).
"Referring to Article 49A of the Federal Constitution (FC), it does not give you (Johari) the authority to make a decision, but only to ensure the vacancy (of seats).
"In both of the letters you give us, you made a decision and you interpreted the FC suggesting that the Bersatu constitution contradicts the FC," Kiandee said.
As such, he claimed that Johari had exceeded his authority under 49A as 49A(3), which only provides power to not make a decision but ensure the seats are vacant. Kiandee also said the letters sent by Johari have 'ruined' the initial purpose of Article 49A.
"How do you reconcile this? I know you will say that you (we) can go to the court, (but) you agreed to the Anti-Hopping Law," he said.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who is also Bersatu secretary-general, has questioned Johari's decision not to declare the seats vacant, despite the six MPs having ceased to be members of the party.
"I am the party's secretary-general. So, who do you think knows better about their party members ceasing to be members? Of course, the secretary-general.
"But you made the decision as if you understand the situation better than me, leaving me to wonder since when you became a Bersatu member?
"It is not your duty to decide whether they have ceased their membership or not. It is my prerogative to decide, based on the party's constitution.
"Don't just follow your whims and make a wrong decision. If you want us to fight in court, let me tell you this; let them (the six MPs) fight me in court to determine whether they are still Bersatu members or not.
"You want to be the best speaker, but you caused this problem; your decision was wrong. Speaker, you need to be non-partisan," he said.
Later, during a press conference, Perikatan Nasional (PN) chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan said that all PN MPs would wear white armbands starting next week, as a sign of protest and to express their disappointment over the speaker's decision.
"This decision, made in our esteemed parliament, is regrettable and has the potential to undermine our system and the country."