PN MPs wear white ribbons in 'reformati' protest

PARLIAMENT | Opposition lawmakers in the Dewan Rakyat today were spotted wearing white ribbons tied to their left arms as a sign of protest against speaker Johari Abdul.

Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah) stood up during Question Time this morning and spoke about the protest in a poem.

“Reben putih di lengan kiri, sebagai protes berlakunya ‘reformati’ (A white ribbon on the left arm, a sign of protest that ‘reformati’ [death of reforms] has happened),” she said.

She then specified that the protest was over Article 49A of the Federal Constitution.

Article 49A contains the anti-party-hopping provision which was passed in 2022.

Others in the House spotted with white ribbons included Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (PN-Kubang Kerian), Ronald Kiandee (PN-Beluran), and Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (PN-Kemaman).

Last week, Johari ruled that six former Bersatu MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will retain their seats in the Dewan Rakyat despite their party memberships being terminated.

Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Independent–Labuan) - one of the six turncoat MPs - had said their “fate lies in the hands of the speaker”.

Justifying his decision to reject Bersatu’s bid for the seats to be declared vacant, Johari argued in a letter that the MPs were still sitting in the opposition bloc.

Aside from Suhaili, the other five were Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang).

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