KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will submit a notice to Parliament seeking to vacate all six seats of its members of Parliament (MP) who pledged support towards the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the notice will be submitted to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul by the party's secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin once the party's constitution amendment is passed. He added that the notice would be in line with the party's constitution amendment involving Clause 10, which deals with the cessation of membership and the expulsion of its members who switch sides with immediate effect.
"I am confident that the constitution amendment will strengthen our party (moving forward). "(And) I also want to remind the Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Johari) to not dodge the matter (berdolak-dalih) when we submit the notice (after the amendment is passed) for the six seats to be vacated.
"These are Bersatu's seats, they belongs to Bersatu and they shall be vacated once approval (of the amendment) is being granted by the Registrar of Societies (RoS)," he said in his speech during the party's Special General Assembly held today. Bersatu is expected to table a motion to amend its constitution which aims to prevent its members from declaring support to other parties or switching sides, later today.
Muhyiddin also said the amendment of Clause 10 was also in line with the anti-hopping provision under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution to prevent members of parliament from switching parties. This means that the six of its lawmakers who pledged support towards Anwar's administration must immediately vacate their seats should they remain with their stance in supporting the unity government once the amendment is passed.
The MPs who pledge support for Anwar were Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang). Meanwhile, Muhyiddin also expressed confidence that the amendment will further strengthen the party's relationship moving forward.
"We are ready for a by-election and starting today, with the support from Pas and Gerakan, we will make a complete preparation to ensure that Perikatan Nasional (PN) wins big in all six seats. "Do not fight among yourselves, just ensure that we are well prepared so we can win these seats that belong to us."