Bersatu wants membership annulment, not sacking of MPs who support Anwar

KLANG: Bersatu will not sack the six MPs who have thrown their support behind Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but will seek to have their membership annulled instead, says party supreme council member Dr Afif Bahardin.

"Bersatu is seeking all legal and political avenues to get the seats vacated for by-elections.

"If we sack them, they can still keep the seats and the anti-party hopping law will not apply," he said adding that the law will only be relevant if they cease to be party members due to a breach of party regulations or instructions.

He said Bersatu would call a general meeting soon to introduce a cessation of membership clause in the party constitution.

He said once this is done the six MPs will cease to be Bersatu members and the Parliament Speaker must declare the six seats vacant.

The six MPs are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi.

Meanwhile, political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said Bersatu may face a dilemma when trying to oust the MPs by amending the party constitution.

He said MPs could dispute their membership annulments as the amendments were made after they declared their support for Anwar.

"They can take the matter to court. So, it is best Bersatu makes the amendments as soon as possible," said Dr Sivamurugan.

He said both Umno and the DAP revised their party constitutions immediately after the anti-party hopping law was passed.

"In fact, when Umno gave out appointment letters to candidates for the last general election, provisions and conditions stipulated in the anti-party hopping law were included," he said.