KOTA BARU: Five former Bersatu Members of Parliament have yet to receive any writ of summons regarding the party's lawsuit against them.
Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim said he and the other four MPs plan to appoint a lawyer once they receive the notice.
"We are now waiting for the notice," he told the New Straits Times.
In February, it was reported that Bersatu intended to take legal action against elected representatives who won on its ticket but later declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.
Last week, Bersatu filed an originating summons against the five MPs: Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).
The suit also named Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul for refusing to vacate the five parliamentary seats.
The plaintiffs argued that from October 12 last year, the second to sixth defendants shifted their support to Anwar and the federal government, violating Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional's stance against supporting or joining Anwar's administration.
Bersatu is seeking a declaration that Johari violated Article 49A(3) of the Federal Constitution by erroneously deciding there were no casual vacancies in the five parliamentary seats.
The party also seeks a ruling that Johari's role obliges him to ensure the five MPs are no longer Bersatu members, thereby triggering casual vacancies.