KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition should not pick and choose only those parts of the law that suit its desires, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said this is what was done in the case of the "Bersatu six", who were ejected by their party after they pledged support for him.
"The (Dewan Rakyat) Speaker read the law and Constitution in its entirety and based his interpretation on those (to allow the MPs to keep their seats).
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"Don't cherry-pick some parts and leave out others, like what Bersatu did yesterday (Wednesday, July 10)," he told reporters after launching the Global Madani Forum 2024 themed "Catalysing the Next Civilisation Revival" here on Thursday (July 11).
He had been asked to comment on the ruling by Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul which was immediately criticised by Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for "going against the Federal Constitution".
Muhyiddin also told a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday that his party would refer the matter to its legal team.
In his ruling, Johari said Clause 10.5 of the Bersatu constitution denies the six MPs their rights as enshrined under the Constitution, the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders and the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952.
The ruling was conveyed in a letter dated Tuesday (July 9) to Bersatu whip Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee that was sighted by The Star.
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Under Bersatu’s amended constitution, the six ceased to be members and had to vacate their seats after failing to respond to official letters requiring them to pledge loyalty to the party by May 31.
The six are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Syed Abu Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang) and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).
Anwar also said Muhyiddin had, in criticising the Speaker's ruling, chosen to omit parts of the discussions by political parties when the anti-party hopping law was proposed.
"I don't know why he chose to (touch on) part of the decision and leave out other parts.
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"Maybe it's how Bersatu conducts politics like it did with the BlackRock issue, which is not right," he said.
Anwar said he was not involved in preliminary discussions when the anti-hopping law was being finalised.
He said those involved included representatives from the then-ruling government (Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan) and Pakatan Harapan (Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and Anthony Loke).
"We (Pakatan) were adamant that those (MPs) who are sacked (from their parties) must vacate their seats.
"But (Bersatu) was against this," he said.
