Seven rogue Bersatu members to receive notices soon, says Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPUR: Bersatu will send notices to seven of its members soon regarding the status of their membership as well as the parliamentary and state seats they currently hold.

Party president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said he would then send a notice to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, as well as the Speakers of the Selangor and Kelantan state assemblies.

"There is a process, we have to be very careful (and) complete the report because we do not want to be hasty," he told reporters after chairing the Perikatan Nasional supreme council meeting at coalition headquarters here Tuesday (June 11) night.

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"It takes time to arrange properly, and we do not want them to say this is irregular on technical grounds.

"We are confident that the steps taken are correct, per the Federal Constitution, the anti-party hopping law and, in line with that, the RoS (Registrar of Societies) agrees.

"We informed Bersatu MPs and state assemblymen that they must comply (with party directives) and sign (a pledge) but there are some who disagreed.

"To determine if there will be (any) by-election, it must be brought to the Speaker,” he added.

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Earlier, six MPs and one assemblyman had their Bersatu memberships revoked after failing to respond to a written instruction from the supreme leadership council to pledge allegiance to the party.

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

The other assemblyman is Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari (Selat Klang).

Muhyiddin, who is also Perikatan chairman, confirmed that PAS would represent the coalition in the Sungai Bakap, Penang state by-election.

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The party would name its candidate on Saturday (June 15), he added.

The Election Commission (EC) has set July 6 as polling day for the Sungai Bakap by-election, with nominations on June 22 and early voting on July 2.

The by-election was called following the May 24 death of incumbent Nor Zamri Latiff of PAS due to stomach inflammation.

In last year's state election, Nor Zamri, the PAS Nibong Tebal president, defeated Pakatan Harapan’s Nurhidayah Che Ros with a majority of 1,563 votes. – Bernama