GRS 4 survives anti-hopping challenge

The four Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) MPs accused of party hopping after the 15th general election have reportedly survived a challenge to vacate their seats.

Papar MP Armizan Ali - who is one of the four - said they had received a copy of the Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul's reply on the matter to Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee.

"I cannot release the content of the email, but all I can say is that there is no need for us to vacate our seats," he was quoted as saying by The Star.

Armizan, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Matbali Musah (Sipitang) and Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) were all Bersatu members in the lead-up to GE15.

However, despite being aligned with Bersatu-led Perikatan Nasional, GRS ended up supporting Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

GRS chief and then Sabah Bersatu chairperson Hajiji Noor subsequently led an exodus out of Bersatu, which raised questions about whether the quartet had violated the anti-hopping law.

Under the Federal Constitution, MPs who quit or switch parties have to vacate their seats.

However, the four and other GRS candidates in GE15 claim they had quietly joined the coalition as direct members prior to GE15, and thus triggered a Bersatu party rule sacking those who are members of two parties.

Bersatu has challenged this claim, and accused the quartet of backdating their move out of the party.

Johari confirmed with Malaysiakini earlier today that he had issued his ruling to Ronald this morning, but declined to divulge details.

Ronald and other Bersatu leaders have kept mum on the ruling.

Replies of GRS 4 now with speaker - Hajiji

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Johari will decide status of 4 GRS MPs within 21 days

Bersatu demands speaker declare 4 Sabah seats vacant