PUTRAJAYA – Bersatu had fallen on its own sword by vehemently objecting to the anti-hopping law when it was first suggested by the law minister back then, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said.
Fahmi said Bersatu missed the opportunity to emulate other political parties, such as Umno and DAP, in amending its constitution before the previous general election.
He said that they only have themselves to blame.
“(Bersatu president Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin had the chance to amend Bersatu’s constitution before the general election,” he told a post-cabinet press conference at his ministry today.
“All candidates in Umno, DAP, and PKR understood and were bound by their oaths or respective party constitutions when the decision (on the anti-party hopping law) was made – unlike Bersatu.
“A lot can be said about the attitude of certain ‘terpekik-terlolong’ (screaming) individuals in Parliament.
“They were the ones who were the most resistant…if it was done, the incident we are seeing now could have been prevented.”
Fahmi was referring to Article 49A(2) of the anti-hopping law, which states that a member of the Dewan Rakyat shall not cease to be an MP when they are expelled from their political party.
The law, which came into effect in October 2022, only states that an MP’s seat will be vacated if the lawmaker resigns from their party, ceases to be a member of the party, or joins another political party.
It does not address instances where an opposition MP switches support to the government without first leaving their party.
Fahmi also cited Article 99 of the Standing Orders, where the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s decision was final.
If Bersatu needed a figure to blame, Fahmi said it would be Muhyiddin, party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, or vice president Datuk Radzi Jidin, quipping that they “should not act like heroes now”.
Yesterday, Hamzah led a walkout in Parliament after disputing Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s decision against vacating the parliamentary seats of six sacked Bersatu members.
Similarly, Muhyiddin accused Johari of “tarnishing” the constitution by not vacating the seats held by the six MPs, who were sacked from the party after declaring support for the government.
Muhyiddin also said the party’s appointed legal experts would take the appropriate action to uphold the law and the party’s constitution by challenging Johari’s decision in court.
The six lawmakers in question are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tg Karang). – July 12, 2024
