PETALING JAYA: One of the six Bersatu MPs backing the government says their seats can be vacated only on an order by the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat or by the courts.
Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman said a proposed amendment of Bersatu’s party constitution would not have any effect on him or the other five Bersatu MPs who have openly declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
“The authority to vacate our parliamentary seats first falls under the jurisdiction of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, then the courts, not the party constitution,” he told FMT.
He added that amending the party constitution would not cause him to change his stand on supporting Anwar.
“After Perikatan Nasional was in the opposition for a year and my constituents became victims, I decided to support the prime minister. Will I make a U-turn just because Bersatu amended its constitution? My answer is no.”
He said he was ready to defend his parliamentary seat in a by-election if necessary, expressing confidence that he won the seat in November 2022 because Labuan voters wanted him to represent them, not because of PN.
Suhaili is among the six Bersatu MPs who pledged support for Anwar late last year. The other five are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli) and Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
Bersatu will hold a special general assembly on March 2 to amend its constitution in the hope of forcing the seats of defectors to be vacated.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal had warned the six “rebel” MPs they could still face disciplinary action after the party constitution is amended.
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