BERSATU should immediately inform Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul about the loss of party membership for four elected representatives so that their seats can be declared vacant to pave way for by-elections, said an action group today.

The Seed Community for a Professional Parliament (SCPP) said the party need not wait until Dewan Rakyat sits on June 24 to do this.

“The notification should be done professionally and not be made a political show. Delay in notifying the Dewan Rakyat speaker is obstructing the due process and the EC’s preparation for the necessary by-elections,” said SCPP in a statement today.

SCPP said that the four MPs ceased to be members of Bersatu after May 31 following their failure to obey the party’s instruction on May 17 to pledge loyalty to the party within 14 days.

This power is provided by Clause 10.4 of its party constitution.

“This is the automatic consequence of their act, like what happens in most parties if one fails to pay membership due,” added SCPP which is a network of individuals active in civil society organisations, think tanks and academia working towards a professional Parliament.

The four MPs referred to by SCPP are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).

Likewise, SCPP said, Bersatu should also immediately inform Selangor Legislative Speaker Lau Weng San of the membership relinquishment for Abdul Rashid Asari, the state assemblyman for Selat Klang.

All the four MPs and state rep have declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, resulting in Bersatu claiming that they have automatically lost their party membership for not toeing the party line.

SCPP said that the speakers and all involved parties must honour Article 49A of the Federal Constitution, and the corresponding provisions in state constitutions, popularly known as the Anti-Hopping Laws (AHLs).

It noted that when MPs or state assemblypersons leave or cease to be members of their parties, their legislative seats should be vacated as per the respective AHLs.

It added that Johari and Lau should duly inform the EC of the five seat vacancies within 21 days from the notice by Bersatu.

“Any deliberate delay or defiance of the constitutional provision will cause disrepute to their high offices and their personal integrity.”

SCPP also said that the membership relinquishment of two other Bersatu reps - Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang MP and Nenggiri state rep in Kelantan) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli MP) do not automatically cause their seats to be vacant because they were “elected as candidates of PAS” and not “as members of PN”.

“Nevertheless, the duo should voluntarily resign to trigger by-elections so that voters can decide whether they support their change of affiliation,” said SCPP. – June 6, 2024.