KUALA LUMPUR: The seating positions in Parliament for three of four Bersatu MPs who expressed support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim have been changed, but still in the Opposition bloc in the August House.
A check in the official Parliament website on Tuesday (Nov 14) revealed that Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Jeli MP Zahari Kechik and Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim are now seated away from other Perikatan MPs, behind Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan also posted a picture of their new seating positions on X.
"Three out of four MPs have had their seats changed in the Dewan Rakyat. Still within the Opposition bloc but separated from the others," he said in the post on Tuesday.
However, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain's remains seated in the same position.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Seri Ramli Mohd Nor said the seating arrangement of MPs is the prerogative of the Speaker upon request from the MP concerned.
According to Standing Order 2, the Speaker may allot a seat for every MP and change it if he thinks fit.
"The request for the arrangement was made based on the request by the four MPs," Ramli said when met at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday.
On Nov 4, Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul confirmed that he had received a written notice from all four Perikatan lawmakers requesting for seating position changes.
Meanwhile, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim questioned why the three MPs who pledged support for the unity government were relocated further away from the Perikatan bloc.
"During my speech just now, I was bothered by the seating change of the three MPs. Why have they been moved as they did not leave the party and only voiced support (for Anwar)?" he asked.
However, Deputy Speaker Alice Lau denied the MPs request for an explanation.
Iskandar declared support for Anwar on Oct 12, and Suhaili did the same on Oct 30.
Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin later announced that Suhaili and Iskandar had been suspended from the party for four and six years respectively by the party's disciplinary board.
On Nov 7, Mohd Azizi became the third Bersatu MP to declare support for Anwar's leadership and Zahari was the fourth on Nov 8.
3 drpd 4 Ahli Parlimen telah berubah tempat di #DewanRakyat mulai 2.30 ptg Selasa 14/11/23. Masih dlm blok pembangkang tetapi berasingan drpd pembangkang yg lain. #GuaMusang, #Jeli & #Labuan. Ya mereka masih pembangkang. Khabarnya #KualaKangsar masih ingin di tempat lama yg sama. pic.twitter.com/TbVouwNu99
— Ahmad b Maslan (@ahmadmaslan) November 14, 2023
