Two Bersatu MPs backing PM willing to fight party in court, vacate seats

Two out of the six Bersatu MPs who previously voiced their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim are willing to vacate their seats if the court finds their act to be against the law.

Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abu Fasal and his Gua Musang counterpart Mohd Azizi Abu Naim said this while commenting on Bersatu’s move to amend its constitution to act against MPs who have switched their support to Anwar without quitting the party.

“The Bersatu leadership is amending the party constitution to no longer enable the party MPs to support the prime minister.

“Previously, in the party’s constitution, there was no clause that stated that a lawmaker loses his/her position if they support anyone other than Bersatu. We are supporting the prime minister, so we will see what happens after the amendment,” Syed Hussin (above, left) told a press conference at Parliament’s lobby today.

According to him further, the lawmakers (who backed Anwar) are willing to challenge the decision in court.

“If the (court’s) decision does not side with us, we are willing to vacate our (parliamentary) seats.

“Let the rakyat decide (in by-elections that follow),” he said.

Azizi echoed his colleague’s stance, stressing that their support for Anwar will not be retracted at any cost.

“We are willing to face any possibility, including vacating our seats,” he said.

Personal opinion

The duo, however, stressed that the stance was reflective of their personal decision and did not represent the other four Bersatu MPs who have also backed Anwar.

“I’m speaking on my behalf. I decided to support the PM after more than one-and-a-half years of being in the opposition and not gaining anything for the rakyat,” said Syed Hussin.

Besides Syed Hussin and Azizi, the other four Bersatu MPs who have backed Anwar, citing the wellbeing of their constituents, are Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

Meanwhile, both Syed Hussin and Azizi rubbished Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan’s claim about being offered a bribe, in the form of an RM1.7 million allocation for his constituency, if he backed Anwar.

“My friends and I who backed Anwar did so on our own accord, without any form of inducement, appeals, or gratuity.

“Don’t use Parliament to play baseless political games,” said Syed Hussin.

While debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree yesterday, Wan Saiful claimed he attended meetings with different individuals who tried to persuade him to back Anwar.

He claimed that those who met him also said they could make his criminal charges go away.

The claim caused an uproar in Dewan Rakyat as government MPs accused Wan Saiful of peddling “hearsay” in the august house.

'RM1.7m bribe': Wan Saiful reveals MACC's prompt response

Bersatu trying to scare its MPs from backing Anwar - party lawmaker

Rompin MP alleges broker offered quid pro quo to support Anwar

'Bersatu can't act, wants to amend constitution only after we backed PM'

Bersatu expected to amend party constitution at general assembly