KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) will send a letter to all six of its lawmakers who switched sides for official confirmation over their stance in supporting the unity government.
This follows the party's constitution amendment involving Clause 10 which was passed today to strip the membership of its lawmakers who switch allegiance. Its president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the amendment of Clause 10, which was in line with the anti-hopping provision under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution, will automatically trigger a by-election.
This means that all six of its lawmakers who pledged support towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration must immediately vacate their seats should they remain with their stance in supporting the unity government. "We do not need to do (enforce the amendment) in restrospective as all six of them (who declared support to Anwar) are still Bersatu members. They have yet to be sacked and they are still members (of Bersatu) until today.
"However, with the passing of the amendment today, we will ask them again officially on their stance. "This is because you (the six members) say that you are a member but you support other parties and this violates the party's principles," he said during a press conference after the Bersatu Special General Assembly, today.
Earlier, Bersatu uninanimously passed a motion to amend its constitution which aimed to prevent its members to switch allegiances and declare support to other parties. The motion, which was tabled by its deputy president Datuk Seri Faizal Azumu, involved Clause 10 of its constitution which deals with the cessation of membership and the expulsion of its members who switch sides with immediate effect.
This means that the six Bersatu lawmakers who pledged support towards Anwar's administration must immediately vacate their seats should they remain with their stance in supporting the unity government. The six members are 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 added that the party will also submit the amendment to the Registrar of Societies (RoS) for the amendment to come into force immediately. "Hence, we hope that the Dewan Rakyat Speaker (Tan Sri Johari Abdul) can acknowledge (the matter) and inform it to the Election Commission (EC) for by-elections to take place.
"We also hope that EC will decide on a date as soon as possible on the six constituencies involved." Asked on the possibilities of the six lawmakers having contradicting stance in the Lower House and outside the House, Muhyiddin said such matter was not important so long the amendment is passed.
"It is not important as the party has come out with a decision and this is our stand. (And) as a member, you need to adhere to the rules and regulations. "Yes, the repercussions of their actions in the past were dealt differently. However, it will also handled in a new way moving forward. So they need to be careful."