KUALA LUMPUR – Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman has urged several quarters to refrain from speculating on possible by-elections in the parliamentary constituencies of the six lawmakers who were expelled from Bersatu.
He asked “certain parties” to wait for the official announcement from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul.
Suhaili referred to the termination letter sent by Bersatu, stating that he and the five other MPs are now independent lawmakers for supporting the unity government.
“According to the termination letter (from Bersatu), we are independent lawmakers who support the current government. That hasn’t changed. We hope there will be no speculation after this.
“Some people out there are speculating about possible by-elections. Don’t engage in such actions; just wait for the official announcement from the speaker,” he said at a press conference in Parliament today.
He said that the terminated lawmakers, including himself, are aware of the federal anti-hopping law, and even if they are interested in joining other parties, the decision will only be made after the next general election.
Representing the five other MPs, Suhaili said all they can do now is “wait, watch, and respond” until the official announcement is made by the speaker of the lower house.
He reiterated that they are backing the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim because they are concerned about the well-being of the people in their parliamentary constituencies.
“We all contested in the (general) election to become the government, but we are now in the opposition bloc.
“We can’t keep ignoring the people’s requests for assistance for five continuous years like this. We wanted to change this situation, so we show our support to the current government,” he said.
Meanwhile, former Nenggiri assemblyman Mohd Azizi Abu Naim said that, as an “independent assemblyman”, he hopes the unity government will nominate an eligible candidate for the upcoming by-election there on August 17 to replace him.
Last week, the high court here rejected an interim injunction application filed by Azizi to stop the Election Commission from setting dates related to the by-election for the Kelantan seat.
Earlier, Bersatu notified the speaker of the terminated memberships of six MPs who had gone against the party line.
The party chief whip, Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, said the “notices of seat vacancies” were issued in accordance with the anti-party hopping provisions under Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.
The notices submitted to Johari were for six lawmakers: Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang) and Azizi, who is also Gua Musang MP.
These six MPs and Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari had previously declared support for the prime minister but did not leave Bersatu.
Following amendments to its party constitution, Bersatu terminated their memberships after they failed to respond to a written instruction from the party’s leadership council to pledge allegiance to the party. – July 3, 2024
