The move is in response to six Bersatu MPs pledging their support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership without leaving the party, enabling them to circumvent a provision in the Federal Constitution which would have required them to vacate their seats.
Party president Muhyiddin Yassin previously said that under the new rule, a Bersatu MP or assemblyman will automatically cease to be a party member if he or she supports any other party or policy that is not aligned with Bersatu’s position.
In a Facebook post today, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal shared a notice issued yesterday by RoS director-general Zulfikar Ahmad stating that the amendment has been approved and can be carried out effective yesterday.
“The RoS has approved Bersatu’s application to amend our constitution, allowing us to vacate the seats of the six MPs who support Anwar Ibrahim,” said the Machang MP.
“The next step is to vacate these seats for the upcoming parliamentary by-elections.”
The MPs are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
All six MPs justified their support for the federal government by citing the needs of their constituencies. However, they said that they would remain loyal to Bersatu.
Almost 2,000 delegates attended the extraordinary general meeting on March 2 to approve the amendment.
During the meeting, Muhyiddin said party secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin would write a letter to each of the six “traitors” as soon as the registrar approved the constitutional amendment.
“We will ask if they still support the prime minister. If the answer is yes, we are ready for by-elections,” said the former prime minister.
“We will make our preparations and win 6-0.”
Muhyiddin also called for Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul not to reject or delay vacating the six seats – Kuala Kangsar, Bukit Gantang, Gua Musang, Labuan, Jeli and Tanjong Karang – when Bersatu submits the relevant notice.