KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman claimed that the amendment to the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's (Bersatu) Constitution that was approved by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) will not be applicable to the seven elected representatives, who declared their support for the unity government.
The Labuan member of Parliament said this was because the rule of law demands that laws cannot be retrospective.
Suhaili pointed out that the amendments to the party's constitution aimed at preventing its members, who are elected representatives, from switching sides came into effect on April 1.
"Most of us (the six Bersatu MPs) declared our support (for the unity government) in October last year, which is months before the amendments to the party's Constitution came into effect.
"I am not well-versed on how the laws work but I was told that the changes to the party's Constitution will not be applicable to the six MPs.
"This is because the changes to the party's Constitution are not retrospective in nature," he said when contacted today.
Suhaili is among the six Bersatu MPs who have declared their support for the unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.
The others are Tanjung Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang) and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).
Mohd Azizi concurred with Suhaili and that the six MPs would wait for the decision by Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul on their status.
"Most of us announced our support for the Prime Minister months before the changes to the party's Constitution came into effect.
"To me, we will wait for the Dewan Rakyat speaker to make his decision (on the status of the six MPs).
"Having that said, until today, all of us are still members of the party. It is just that we declared our support for the Prime Minister," he said.
Mohd Azizi nevertheless stressed that the changes to the party's Constitution would affect the support of the six MPs and Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari for the unity government.
"Insya-Allah, we are consistent with our stance to continue supporting the Prime Minister," he said.
Suhaili and Mohd Azizi were commenting on reports that RoS has approved the amendment to Bersatu's Constitution, aimed at preventing its members from switching sides. (hyperlink:
According to a document sighted by the New Straits Times, the new amendment came into effect on April 1. The matter was confirmed by Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal.