KUALA LUMPUR: A Bersatu member of Parliament has hailed his colleague's decision to back Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, saying it proved party rules could not stop anyone from declaring support for another leader.
"Congratulations to Gombak (PH-Amirudin)," said Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (PN-Tanjong Karang), who is among the six Bersatu MPs backing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"The support from the Selat Klang assemblyman (Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari) towards the Selangor Menteri Besar (shows) Bersatu's amended constitution cannot stop any MPs or assemblymen from declaring their support for the Prime Minister," he said while debating the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Yesterday, Abdul Rashid declared his support for Amirudin's leadership and said the decision was made after examining current developments and considering several key factors.
This came days after Bersatu amended its constitution to prevent more elected representatives from declaring support for other parties or leaders.
Then Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the amendment of Bersatu's constitution was in line with the anti-hopping provision under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution, which allows for a by-election to be triggered.
Some observers have said that loopholes in the anti-hopping law allow for elected representatives to declare support for another party leader without running afoul of the law.
Aside from Zulkafperi and Abdul Rashid, others who have declared their support for the government include Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Faisal (Bukit Gantang), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).