BERSATU has terminated the memberships of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four other MPs for sitting with the opposition during the May 18 Parliament session.

In letters dated May 28 seen by The Malaysian Insight, the party cited the decision by the 94-year-old Dr Mahathir, who is Langkawi MP, to sit across the aisle from Perikatan Nasional lawmakers, who are led by Prime Minister and Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

The four others are deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, supreme council member Maszlee Malik, as well as Amiruddin Hamzah.

The letter addressed to Dr Mahathir said he, in a notice dated May 15, informed Parliament that he wished to sit with the opposition bloc.

It also said he confirmed in a press conference on May 18 that he sat with the opposition.

“As such, your membership is hereby terminated in accordance with Articles 10.2.2 and 10.2.3,” said the letter, signed by Bersatu working secretary Muhammad Suhaimi Yahya.

The letters to former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz, former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq, former education minister Maszlee and former deputy finance minister Amiruddin are similarly worded.

Jerlun MP Mukhriz is said to have informed Parliament on April 13 and May 14 about his wish to sit with the opposition, while Amiruddin (Kubang Pasu) did so on May 4.

The notices to Maszlee (Simpang Renggam) and Syed Saddiq (Muar) said their memberships are being terminated because they sat with the opposition during the single-day parliamentary meet.

Like Dr Mahathir, Articles 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of the Bersatu constitution are cited for their terminations.

Article 10.2.2 states that membership is terminated when a member announces they are quitting the party, while Article 10.2.3 states that a member is automatically sacked when they join another party.

Bersatu was founded on September 6, 2016 by Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Mukhriz and Syed Saddiq to take on the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government in the 2018 general election. It then joined Pakatan Harapan, which went on to win the polls and wrest Putrajaya.

On February 24, Muhyiddin announced Bersatu’s departure from PH, causing the government’s collapse, and partnered with Umno, PAS and Gabungan Parti Sarawak to form the PN administration. – May 28, 2020.