Johari to decide on Labuan seat vacancy 'in due time'

Summary

• Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul is gathering more details on Bersatu’s repeated bid to vacate the Labuan parliamentary seat.

• Johari says a decision on the matter will be made after considering legal implications, other issues.

• This is over the Labuan MP and five other former Bersatu lawmakers voicing support for Anwar Ibrahim in 2023.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul is set to determine the status of the disputed Labuan parliamentary seat “in due time”.

Confirming that he has received a letter from Bersatu vice-president Ronald Kiandee regarding a request to vacate the seat, Johari said he needs time to review the issue as he does not yet have a comprehensive view of the matter.

Johari, who was speaking at a press conference after officiating the 2nd Consultative Meeting of Young Parliamentarians of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Klang, also noted that he has written to Labuan MP Suhaili Abdul Rahman.

“I will also consult several other departments… Once all the necessary details have been gathered, God willing, a decision will be made soon after considering all aspects, including the legal implications,” New Straits Times quoted him as saying today.

Last week, Ronald, who is also the Bersatu chief whip, said Johari has no choice but to declare the Labuan seat vacant after the Shah Alam High Court dismissed Suhaili’s lawsuit to challenge his automatic expulsion from Bersatu.

Ronald argued that the court’s decision renders the reasons relied on by Johari against vacating the Labuan seat as no longer relevant and applicable.

The court ruled in favour of Bersatu’s application to strike out Suhaili’s suit after Judge Nor Hayati Mat found it did not have merit. The judge also ordered the lawmaker to pay RM5,000 in costs to the party.

Turncoat members

Suhaili is one of six former Bersatu lawmakers whose status as MPs were previously questioned after the parliamentarians declared their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration in October 2023.

Following the slew of turncoat members, Bersatu amended its constitution to strip any member of membership in the party if they defected.

This was expected to trigger the anti-hopping law per Article 49A of the Federal Constitution, which would cause the seats to be declared vacant.

However, Johari rejected Bersatu’s bid to vacate the seats, arguing that the anti-hopping provisions in the Federal Constitution are meant to ensure political stability while stating that the six MPs are still considered opposition lawmakers.

Other than Suhaili, the five are 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 Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).

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