Opposition MPs stage walkout over speaker's decision on turncoat reps

PARLIAMENT | Opposition MPs staged a walkout from the Dewan Rakyat this evening in protest of speaker Johari Abdul, who decided that six Bersatu turncoat MPs get to keep their seats.

Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut), who led the walkout, gave a lengthy speech criticising the speaker's decision, which he said was "wrong".

According to Hamzah, it was his prerogative as the party secretary-general to determine whether any Bersatu member had ceased to be one.

"I want to tell everyone who is here in the Dewan Rakyat, that the (six) who shifted their support to the other side still considered themselves as Bersatu members.

"So, when the party makes a decision that they have ceased to be a member, that is the party's right to make the decision.

"It is not your duty (as Parliament speaker) to say whether they are here or not! It's my duty as the party secretary-general," Hamzah said.

The Perikatan Nasional leader then went on to lambast Johari, saying that the speaker's decision would destroy the sanctity of the Federal Constitution.

According to Hamzah, Johari should have followed the steps taken by the Kelantan state assembly speaker, who declared vacant the Nenggiri state seat after Bersatu found its incumbent Mohd Azizi Abu Naim had ceased to be a party member.

"I want to let the speaker know that this decision is wrong. You have to be non-partisan here," he said.

After the walkout, the opposition MPs held a press conference where they continued to criticise Johari's decision.

PN chief whip Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bahru) also announced that they will start wearing white armbands to Parliament next week as a sign of protest.

‘Made with great care’

Johari, who initially appeared to be left speechless by the walkout, responded to PN's criticisms by saying that he was "not a postman".

Referring to a statement by PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin who rebuked him for using "dicela", a strong Malay term that is used to express disapproval, Johari stressed that his decision was made with great care.

"I am not a postman. When I received what had been given to me, I made sure, I made sure that I studied everything.

"I read everything about the amendment on Article 49A (of the Federal Constitution).

"I affirm my decision that the seats were not made vacant, as I have informed Beluran," Johari said.

Yesterday, Muhyiddin revealed that the speaker had decided not to declare the six Parliament seats vacant, despite their incumbents having shifted their support to the government.

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