PETALING JAYA: Minister in Prime Minister's Department (Special Functions) Datuk Seri Redzuan Yusof and deputy Works Minister Datuk Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh are scheduled to hold an emergency press conference today.
They are expected to hold the media conference at the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) headquarters, here, soon, where Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is also present along with Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.
The reason for this last minute press conference is unknown but earlier today, rumours began circulating that a cabinet minister will be resigning today.
The rumours pointed to Redzuan but as of press time, the New Straits Times was unable to verify the claim.
According to party workers here, Redzuan is arriving at the headquarters soon, while Shahruddin has already arrived.
Newly-appointed Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin is also expected to hold a press conference here at 4pm to speak on issues relating to the sacking of five Bersatu MPs.
Earlier Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz arrived at the headquarters and the former announced his arrival on his Twitter account.
"I am at the Bersatu headquarters now. They said they want to sack me. I am waiting at the office," he wrote.
Yesterday, Bersatu sent out letters to Dr Mahathir (Langkawi), Dr Maszlee Malik (Simpang Renggam) Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar), Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah (Kubang Pasu) and Mukhriz (Jerlun) informing them of their sacking.
The reason for the sacking as stated in the letter signed by Bersatu working secretary Capt (Rtd) Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya, was that the five Members of Parliament refused to sit together in the government bloc during the May 18 Dewan Rakyat session.
"During the May 18 Dewan Rakyat session, you sat at the opposition bloc that does not support the Perikatan Nasional government under Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president and acting chairman. Due to this, based on Article 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the Bersatu constitution, your membership is revoked with immediate effect," the letter, addressed to each MP, stated.
Article 10.2 of the Bersatu constitution stated that the membership of a person is automatically revoked if he declared that he has left the party (10.2.2) or if he becomes a member of another political party in this country (10.2.3).
However, Article 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the Bersatu constitution does not state that a member can be expelled if he sits on the other side of the government bloc in the Dewan Rakyat.