PETALING JAYA: Gua Musang MP Azizi Abu Naim said the seven ousted from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) were waiting for a response from the party on the legitimacy of the loyalty notices sent to them.
"We had asked the party to explain the notice asking us to pledge our loyalty, which is why we did not respond before the May 31 deadline," said Azizi.
The notice was sent compelling party members to uphold party loyalty and non-allegiance to the Prime Minister, where elected representatives were given 14 days to reply.
Bersatu had, on Sunday (June 2), declared the seven "rebels" (six MPS and a Selangor assemblyman) were no longer party members as they had failed to reply on the deadline.
"We had sought an explanation from the party on who was involved in the special committee tasked with scrutinising the responses," Azizi told TV3's Buletin Utama on Sunday (June 2) night.
"All of us planned to respond after being provided with an explanation to our inquiries," he said.
Other than Azizi, the others are Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang) and Selat Klang assemblyman Rashid Asari.
