SERDANG: Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has taken a swipe at Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, criticising him for being a "hypocrite" over the anti-hopping law amendment.
Fahmi said Muhyiddin, during his tenure as prime minister, had stated that dismissal of an elected representative should not result in a seat vacancy during the debate on the constitutional amendment for the anti-party hopping legislation.
He said some political parties, such as PKR, Umno, and DAP, had taken measures to address this issue by amending their party constitutions early or enforcing strict pledges, unlike Bersatu.
"If we look at Tan Sri Muhyiddin's statements around November 2022, right after the general election, he also said it was not wrong for Umno members to support him as prime minister.
"So, I see him as a hypocrite who has forgotten what he said, whether in Parliament or right after the 15th General Election.
"What is happening now is a case of 'falling on his own sword.' Therefore, it's pointless to regret later," he told reporters when met at the Felda Settlers' Day celebration here today.
Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, dismissed Muhyiddin's claims that the unity government's fear of defeat was behind the decision to maintain the status of seats belonging to six 'rebel' Bersatu members of parliament.
He said the decision was based on the constitution stipulating that all six 'rebel' Bersatu members were indeed sacked from their party.
"This is not a matter of fear, it's a matter of the constitution. Several of those party members were expelled, and if we look at the case of the Selat Klang assemblyman, the Selangor Speaker declared that he was expelled in a planned manner.
"Being expelled from the party does not mean they hopped parties. Constructive dismissal or planned expulsion is still an expulsion, and members of parliament who have been expelled from their party have not switched parties.
"To this day, all these MPs have not joined any party. They became independents and continue to support the prime minister. They did not leave their party, their party expelled them. That is the reason," he said.
Muhyiddin today claimed that the six MPs' seats were not declared vacant because the federal unity government was afraid of defeat.
Muhyiddin said the government was even willing to go against the anti-hopping law, which it had championed.
The debate on the anti-hopping law was sparked by recent reports that the six seats of Bersatu rebels would not be vacated despite a notice issued by the party.
Dubbed the 'Bersatu rebels,' the six MPs are Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).