I'll reply to Bersatu notice on rogue reps' seats in 21 days, says Speaker

KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul says he will respond to Bersatu's notice of unexpected vacancies in six parliamentary seats within 21 days.

He said he received the notice from Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran) last week.

"I received the notice from Beluran on Friday (June 21) and according to the law I have 21 days to study the matter.

"With God’s will, once I have all the answers I’ll call you guys (the media)," he said at the Parliament building here on Monday (June 24).

ALSO READ: Kiandee says Speaker has received notice of six rogue Bersatu MPs

When asked about the exact date he would respond to the notice, Johari replied: "I have 21 days (to) work on that."

On Thursday (June 20), Kiandee – the Bersatu parliamentary whip – said the notice regarding the Jeli, Gua Musang, Bukit Gantang, Kuala Kangsar, Tanjong Karang and Labuan seats had been handed to the Speaker.

On Wednesday (June 19), the Nenggiri seat held by former Bersatu man Mohd Azizi Abu Naim was declared vacant by Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah.

Mohd Azizi, who is also Gua Musang MP, lost his membership in Bersatu for failing to respond to an official letter requiring him to pledge his loyalty to the party by May 31.

Although he won Nenggiri under the PAS banner, Mohd Azizi held a Bersatu membership.

Bersatu had earlier declared that he, along with five other MPs and a Selangor state assemblyman, were no longer members after they failed to respond to special letters requiring them to pledge their loyalty to the party by May 31.

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The other five MPs are Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).

The MPs had declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim while Selangor's Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari said he backed the state government under Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

Bersatu then amended its constitution to automatically revoke the membership of anyone who went against the party's stand.