KUALA LUMPUR – Umno has a strong chance of winning the seven parliamentary and state seats currently held by defected Bersatu members if by-elections are conducted this year, said PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
Fadhli said that the Barisan Nasional linchpin could potentially gain wins in the parliamentary seats it narrowly lost in the previous general election if it successfully capitalised on support from Pakatan Harapan (PH) voters.
“This time, if there is a by-election, (Umno) will be helped by votes from PH supporters. This is their time to rise again,” Fadhli, who is also Pasir Mas MP, said in a Facebook post.
He added that Umno’s task now should be to urge Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to declare the seven seats vacant to pave the way for by-elections.
“Push and press (the speaker) to the best of your ability. Since Umno is in second place for the six parliamentary seats, the party is the most qualified to field a candidate. Hopefully, my view is taken into account.”
Last week, Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris said that the membership of party representatives who support the government is no longer valid, urging the six lawmakers and one assemblyman to vacate their seats without waiting for their letters of dismissal.
His comment, however, was met with indignation by Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, a turncoat lawmaker, who told Scoop that Razali’s remarks do not reflect the due process that Bersatu must undergo.
The trading of barbs comes in light of the Registrar of Societies (RoS) previously approving amendments to the party’s constitution to allow it to take action against its members who declare their backing of the government.
Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal had then claimed the approved amendments would allow the party to vacate the seats held by its MPs who had pledged support for the government, paving the way for by-elections.
However, the amendments came into effect on April 1, while the seven elected representatives had declared their backing of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government prior to this.
The MPs involved are Syed Abu Hussin, Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang).
The party’s Selat Klang assemblyman, Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari, also announced his backing for Anwar’s government, claiming that his move was a result of Perikatan Nasional’s silence amid accusations thrown at the Malay rulers. – April 17, 2024