Bersatu's Jeli MP unfazed by 'traitor' label, says did it for the people

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu's Jeli MP Zahari Kechik says he is not bothered being labelled a "traitor" for supporting the government, as his main intention is to help the people.

"We will do whatever it takes to serve the people.

"The people elected me as their representative and I don't want to be seen as a representative who has failed in representing and serving them.

"It is up to them to label us as 'traitors'. The most important thing is we want to serve the people effectively," Zahari told reporters at the Parliament building Monday (March 18).

On Saturday (March 16), a news portal reported that Umno secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki had said the party had no issues with Bersatu MPs supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, but insisted that "traitors will be traitors".

Aside from Zahri, other MPs who declared support for Anwar were Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang); Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang); Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang); Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and MP for Labuan, Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman.

On March 3, Bersatu passed a motion to automatically nullify the membership of any of the party’s elected representatives who shift allegiance to rival parties.