KUALA LUMPUR – As the Dewan Rakyat speaker is expected to decide whether the six seats held by Bersatu representatives should be vacated, the outcome appears unequivocal, claims Umno veteran Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.
He said that the decision had already been made by Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul when he moved all six lawmakers from the opposition bloc in the Dewan Rakyat.
Shahrir explained that the speaker’s rationale for this is that they are no longer part of the bloc.
“I follow the discussions about Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs with feelings of peculiarity and humour. It is now stressed that only the speaker could decide whether their seats are vacated, and therefore, a by-election is needed.
“In actuality, the speaker had long decided that all the lawmakers were no longer members of the opposition when he moved them out of the bloc in the Dewan,” he said.
Shahrir said Johari’s decision showed that the six MPs have “hopped to become independent representatives.”
“Logically speaking, it is easy for the speaker to move a step ahead by declaring their seats vacated. But politics has its own logic, senyum (just smile),” he said.
Previously, Bersatu’s whip, Datuk Seri Ronal Kiandee, said the notice informing of the seat vacancies had been sent and accepted by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker’s office on June 20.
The notice cited Article 49A of the Federal Constitution, which states that an MP would no longer be part of the August house if they resigned or ceased to be members of their respective political party.
Bersatu issued the notice after the six lawmakers had their memberships revoked when they declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The six seats’ outcome will be decided by Johari in the upcoming Dewan Rakyat session, which will commence from tomorrow until July 18.
The six lawmakers involved are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tg Karang). – June 23, 2024