KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) has sent a notice to the Dewan Rakyat about the "unexepected" vacancies of four parliamentary seats, which were occupied by its former party leaders.
Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee said the four members of parliament (MPs) involved are Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (Papar), Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Datuk Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) and Datuk Matbali Musah (Sipitang).
These four MPs had won the seats in the 15th General Election last month under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ticket.
Ronald said the four MPs' Bersatu memberships were terminated after Sabah Bersatu chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had announced the state chapter's exit from the party after GE15.
"The termination was done in accordance with the Bersatu constitution and was informed via a letter dated Dec 21.
"Therefore, in accordance with Article 49A(3) of the Federal Constitution, the Dewan Rakyat member will cease to be one and their seat must be vacated.
"We have also requested the Dewan Rakyat Speaker for this (cessation) to be informed to the Election Commission in 21 days from the date the written notice was received so that the election process can be facilitated to fill the vacancies," he said in a statement today.
On Dec 9, Hajiji, who is Sabah chief minister and GRS chairman, said they decided to quit the party en-masse in view of the political situation when the Yang-Dipertuan Agong decreed for the formation of a federal unity government helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Hajiji said the unanimous decision to leave Bersatu was in the interest of Sabah, for the sake of unity and to fulfil the people's wishes and aspirations to fight and struggle under the auspices of a local party.
He said they would use GRS to express Sabah's interest and that of the Borneo states in Malaysia.
Hajiji also said he was confident that the decision would be good for political unity and stability in Sabah.