Govt not involved in speaker's ex-Bersatu 6 decision: Khaled

• UPDATED 4.24PM | Added Zahid’s comments.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul’s decision to retain the positions of six former Bersatu MPs was not motivated by any party, said Umno vice-president Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

The defence minister said the speaker is empowered by Parliament to make his own decisions and is not influenced by any party.

“The opposition has the right to voice their views, but at the same time needs to understand the decision made by the Dewan Rakyat speaker in maintaining the position of six former Bersatu members who supported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim,” he said.

He told reporters after officiating the Machang Umno Division 2024 delegates meeting at the Bukit Tiu Knowledge Transformation Centre last night.

On Thursday, Johari announced the decision not to vacate the seats of six former Bersatu MPs in a letter to Baluren MP Ronald Kiandee, who is also Bersatu chief whip, dated July 9.

On June 20, the party submitted a notice to the speaker requesting that the six parliamentary seats of its former representatives who supported the prime minister be vacated.

The notice was submitted based on the provisions of Article 49A(1)(a)(ii) of the Constitution, which states that a member of the House of Representatives shall cease to be a member of the House and his seat shall become vacant when he ceases to be a member of a political party.

The six 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 Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

‘Umno not afraid’

Echoing Khaled’s sentiments, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the decision to retain the six MPs’ seats was made transparently and in accordance with Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.

The Umno president also dismissed claims that the government was afraid of facing defeat if the by-elections were held as his party was always ready to contest in the area.

“The six seats were Umno seats and if they are vacant, Umno will contest. In politics, we cannot be afraid…

“... we leave it to any party to bring this issue to court. But the power of the speaker is clear where it is enshrined in the (Constitution) as mentioned by him (Khaled),” Bernama reported him as saying after officiating the Kuala Nerus Umno division delegates meeting today.

- Bernama

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