State assembly speaker Lau Weng San declined to respond to calls for him to emulate his Kelantan counterpart, Amar Abdullah, who yesterday declared the Nenggiri seat held by Azizi Abu Naim vacant.

“As of now, I have yet to receive any letter or notice from Bersatu (that Rashid has ceased to be a party member).

“I cannot comment on whether we need to emulate Kelantan or not. Only after receiving Bersatu’s letter can I make a decision based on the Selangor constitution,” he told FMT.

Azizi, who is also Gua Musang MP, is among six Bersatu MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The others are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

However, Azizi had said he would continue to support the PAS-led Kelantan government.

Rashid meanwhile declared support for Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari earlier this year.

Bersatu contends that the seven elected representatives ceased to be party members through their own actions – as opposed to being sacked – and that their seats should therefore be declared vacant.

Amar announced the “unexpected vacancy” of the Nenggiri seat yesterday, with the Election Commission to fix a by-election date next Friday. Azizi, for his part, has said he will bring the matter to court.

The Kelantan assembly speaker’s decision prompted Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal to urge Lau to do the same for Rashid’s Selat Klang seat.