KYOTO: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul (pic) says he has not received any official notice regarding the seats of six Bersatu MPs who had their party membership revoked recently.
Johari said he also needed time to examine all aspects of the matter carefully, especially involving the anti-party hopping law, before making any decision.
"At the moment there is no (notice) yet.
"What happens outside of that to me is 'noise' and as long as I don't receive (anything) in black and white (from) the party, whatever actions are taken by the party against its members ... is not my jurisdiction. I should not interfere.
"Secondly, I take the attitude that they were party members but when they took their oath to uphold the Constitution and be loyal to Malaysia before me, I have to bear the responsibility to defend the freedom and rights of Parliament," he said here on Friday (June 7).
Johari was speaking to the media before being taken to Kyoto State Guest House, the official accommodation for state guests of Japan.
He has been on a five-day official visit to Japan with a Malaysian Parliamentary delegation since Monday (June 3) at the invitation of the Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Fukushiro Nukaga.
Also in the delegation were members of the Special Select Committees on: International Affairs, Sim Tze Sin (Bayan Baru MP); Environment, Science and Plantations, Vivian Wong Shir Yee (Sandakan); and Nation Building, Education and Human Resource Development Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (Jempol).
Commenting further, Johari said that as Speaker, he will take responsibility for evaluating every action of the people's representatives as Members of Parliament and not members of political parties.
"For me to take action, I must (carefully) into everything, every aspect, because whatever decision I make will (not only) affect the members of a party or Members of Parliament but also the country.
"I take a very cautious attitude and as long as I am not sure, I will not make a decision first.
"I am being careful not only from a legal and moral standpoint (but) I have to make sure my actions are correct.
"I don't want to be blamed or feel guilty when I am not in this position later," he said.
The party membership of the six MPs was revoked after they failed to respond to a written instruction from its supreme leadership council to pledge allegiance to Bersatu.
They are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang). – Bernama
