GUA Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim has insisted that there is no need for him to vacate the seat that he won in the 15th general election (GE15) as he did not “hop” parties.
Speaking to reporter at the Gua Musang Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2024 Open House on Thursday (May 9), the Bersatu lawmaker said he has never issued any statements about him leaving his party and is therefore not subjected to the anti-party hopping law, reported Berita Harian.
Rather, what he did was simply to declare support for the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim-led unity government, he added.
“What I violated was perhaps an offence on the Bersatu Constitution level which is subject to the Registrar of Societies Malaysia (ROS). Therefore, the issue of vacating my seat as mentioned by Bersatu is baseless,” he was quoted as saying by the Malay daily.
“For me, we need to be rational and professional. That said, a by-election is triggered following the death or bankruptcy of the assemblyman and aside from these factors, from a legal standpoint the Dewan Rakyat Speaker has the authority to decide if we should vacate our seats.
“We had already consulted our lawyers (when we decided to declare support for the prime minister) and it is clear we did not violate the anti-party hopping law.”
Mohd Azizi, who is also the Nenggiri assemblyman, is among six Bersatu MPs who previously pledged support for Anwar, citing the well-being of their constituents.
The other five are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
Selat Klang assemblyman Abdul Rashid Asari, meanwhile, declared support for Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari in the state legislative assembly.
Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin was reported as saying on Thursday (May 9) that letters on the “rogue” lawmakers’ membership status would be issued next week after the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election this weekend.
Hamzah had also announced that Tanjong Karang lawmaker Zulkafperi and Abdul Rashid had been sacked from the party for attending a Pakatan Harapan campaign event in KKB on Wednesday (May 8).
Elaborating, Mohd Azizi said he and the other five “defectors” were prepared to receive the official letter from Bersatu.
“We will see if the letter (is an announcement that the party will take action against us) or if it’s a reprimand but whatever happens we have already taken the official stand to keep supporting Anwar’s leadership,” he remarked. – May 10, 2024
Main pic credit: Harapan Madani
