However, Azizi, one of six Bersatu MPs to declare support for the unity government, said he would continue to back Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.

“Congratulations to Bersatu for successfully obtaining the Registrar of Societies’s (RoS) approval in a very short time. However, I remain consistent in supporting the Madani government led by Anwar,” Azizi told FMT.

He added that RoS’s swift approval proved that there was no political interference from the government in the affairs of its federal agencies.

Yesterday, Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal confirmed that RoS had approved Bersatu’s amendment to its party constitution, effective April 1.

Bersatu’s decision to tweak its constitution was in response to the six MPs pledging their support for Anwar’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.

The other Bersatu MPs who backed Anwar were Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli) and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).

All six MPs justified their support for the federal government by citing the needs of their constituencies. However, they also said they would remain loyal to Bersatu.

Bersatu’s Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari had also declared support for Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari.

Labuan MP Suhaili dismissed RoS’s approval of the amendment yesterday, saying it only took effect on April 1 and was not retrospective in nature.