Dr Mahathir and Co reject their membership termination

Mukhriz, Dr Mahathir and Syed Saddiq. – Filepix

PETALING JAYA: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four others have rejected their termination letter from the party claiming that their "sacking" was unlawful.

In a joint statement signed by Dr Mahathir, vice president Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Rahman and supreme council members Dr Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah said that the letters issued to them claimed that they had violated provisions under 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the party's constitution.

However, they said based on the provisions under 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the Bersatu constitution, it was "unreasonable" to claim that they had left the party when they had only complied with what was allowed under the law and their rights under the Federal Constitution as legitimate Members of Parliament.

"We absolutely disagree with the termination of our membership with immediate effect in which it is against the law, and it also has denied us the right to defend ourselves, which is a right that is guaranteed under the law," they said in a statement on Thursday (May 28).

They added that they did not accept the termination because it was clear that it was against the law and that they reserved the right to take relevant legal action.

They further claimed that party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's actions to unilaterally remove them without reason was due to him feeling threatened in facing the party elections, adding that this was also because Muhyiddin's position as the Prime Minister was also not safe.

They also said that the letters issued to each of them was signed by working secretary, Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya, who was not given this authority under the party's constitution.

“For a working secretary to sign the letter addressed to, among others, a founder of Bersatu, is rude and disgusting, ” they said.

They added that they would ensure that Bersatu returned to the right path and would no longer be used by certain parties who were greedy for power and position.

Earlier, it was reported that the five had been axed by the party for sitting in the Opposition bench during the May 18 parliamentary sitting.