KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has called on the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to clarify the seating arrangement and official status of six MPs who were sacked from Bersatu but have yet to be formally accepted by the government bloc.
He said there appeared to be confusion, as the MPs in question no longer belonged to Perikatan Nasional and were also not recognised by the government.
“Where are these six supposed to sit? They’ve left Perikatan Nasional, but the government side refuses to accept them and claims, ‘They’re not ours, not part of the government’,” he said during a press conference at the Parliament building here on Thursday (Aug 7).
Hamzah, who is also Larut MP, urged reporters to verify the matter with Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, saying that Bersatu’s Chief Whip Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee had already submitted a formal letter last year.
“So what was the black-and-white that the Speaker referred to yesterday? The Speaker needs to clarify,” he said.
Addressing the six MPs directly, Hamzah stressed that they would not be fielded again under Perikatan Nasional in any future election.
“I want to inform these six - you will no longer be our candidates. The government side doesn’t want you, and on our side, I’m sorry, we definitely will not accept you again. 100% - these six will not be our candidates.
“I want to make it clear to the public - Perikatan Nasional will not take in individuals who don’t know where they stand,” he said.
The six MPs in question are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).
They were issued termination letters by Bersatu on June 12 last year after failing to comply with a party directive to reaffirm loyalty to the party.
Eight days later, Bersatu’s Ronald Kiandee submitted a notice to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker requesting for their seats to be declared vacant.
However, on July 10, 2024, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin revealed that Speaker Johari had informed the party that the six seats would not be vacated.
Despite pledging support for the prime minister, the six continue to be seated in the Opposition bloc as no formal notification has been submitted to the Speaker regarding their defection.
On Wednesday (Aug 6), Johari clarified that under the Federal Constitution and Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders, they remain Opposition MPs.
“There is not a single written statement addressed to me saying they want to leave the Opposition to join the government.
“So for me, they remain in that bloc, and that is why I haven’t changed their seating arrangement,” Johari told the House.
