The sacking of six MPs by Bersatu did not require them to vacate their seats as it did not amount to party-hopping, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He was referring to the move by six former Bersatu members who declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

“We are all aware that Article 49A(2) clearly states that dismissal does not equate to a vacant seat, nor does it mean party-hopping. So, if we examine what has happened, it is interpreted as planned sacking,” he told a post-cabinet meeting press conference in Putrajaya.

The six MPs involved are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

On the decision by Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul, who ruled that the six MPs would remain elected representatives, Fahmi said the decision was based on the Federal Constitution and legal interpretation.

“This adheres to the fundamental rules of parliamentary proceedings (Dewan Rakyat Standing Order),” he said, adding that any criticism of Johari’s decision is unfounded.

Fahmi also told the opposition to stop portraying themselves as heroes in this matter, noting that Bersatu had previously opposed amendments to the anti-hopping law (Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022) when it was proposed by then-law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

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“Bersatu was the one most opposed to a number of amendments proposed by the law minister (Wan Junaidi) at the time. If there’s anyone to blame, it should be Muhyiddin Yassin, Hamzah Zainudin and Mohd Radzi Md Jidin.

“They were among those strongly against the amendments, which, if implemented, would have prevented the current situation.

“Now, they’re making noise in the Dewan Rakyat, but they were the ones who disagreed initially. (Alas), senjata makan tuan,” he said, citing the Malay proverb to describe resorting to actions that backfired.

Two days ago, Muhyiddin confirmed that Bersatu had received a letter from Johari stating that there were no vacant parliamentary seats involving the six former members who had pledged their support to Anwar.

On June 20, Bersatu chief whip Ronald Kiandee said that the party has submitted notices to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's office on the status of its six MPs, whose memberships have been revoked by the party, in accordance with Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.

The six MPs received notices of immediate party membership termination on June 12 after failing to respond to a notice to confirm their loyalty to the party.

- Bernama