Removal of Dr M and supporters invalid, says former party sec-gen Marzuki

PETALING JAYA: Former Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Marzuki Yahya has claimed that the axing of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his supporters is invalid, as the termination of a party membership has to go through the disciplinary committee and supreme council first.

“It is not valid in the party constitution.

"It is supposed to go through the disciplinary committee and supreme council first, not just a letter from the organising secretary,” he said.

Marzuki also accused Bersatu organising secretary Suhaimi Yahya of abusing his powers by sending the termination letters to Dr Mahathir and his supporters.

“The one who is supposed to be sacked is the organising secretary himself because he was abusing the authority he has by issuing the letter to the chairman, deputy president, youth chief and two other MPs,” he added.

Earlier Thursday (May 28), a letter by Suhaimi was sent to Dr Mahathir, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Dr Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah, informing them that their respective party memberships had been terminated.

The reason given was that they had sat in the Opposition bench during the May 18 parliamentary sitting.

However, Marzuki, who is an outspoken Dr Mahathir supporter, did not receive the termination letter.

“So far none. For me, I’m always anticipating (to be sacked),” he said.

The letter by Suhaimi said the five were removed according to Clauses 10.2.2 sand 10.2.3 of the Bersatu party constitution.

Speculation over the sacking of Dr Mahathir and his supporters had been rife in recent days, as the first Bersatu party polls loomed.