'Six plus one' rogue Bersatu reps yet to get letters from party

PETALING JAYA: The six rogue Bersatu MPs and one assemblyman who voiced their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim have yet to receive letters from the party’s leadership in relation to their status.

“We have not received the letter,” Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal said when contacted on Sunday (April 21).

Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman also confirmed the same.

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“I think (the letter) might arrive by next week. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Bersatu chief) may want us to be done with the festive season first,” he said.

Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris reportedly said on April 4 that letters will be sent to the six MPs and also to an assemblyman who announced his backing for the Selangor Mentri Besar.

He said the party will notify them according to procedure.

“They won based on the support of voters for the party and not on their own merit.

ALSO READ: Six plus one, you're out: Bersatu to give rogue reps the boot

"The approval of the ROS (Registrar of Societies) is related to loss of party membership and the six-plus-one (six MPs and one assemblyman) should vacate their seats immediately so that by-elections can be held,” he added.

Razali said party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin would issue the letters, but did not say when.

This comes after the ROS approved amendments to Bersatu’s constitution to allow the party to revoke the membership of elected representatives who go against the party’s stand.

Apart from Suhaili and Syed Hussin, the other lawmakers who declared support for Anwar are Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli) and Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).

ALSO READ: ROS allows Bersatu to amend party constitution

On March 7, Bersatu’s Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari pledged his support for Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, who is from PKR.

The anti-hopping law that came into force in October 2022 states that an MP will lose his or her seat if that person ceases to be a member of the party concerned.