KUALA LUMPUR: The status of the four Members of Parliament (MPs) from Sabah who quit Bersatu remains for now while their seats have not been left vacant.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Datuk Johari Abdul said, he had received the notice from Bersatu that there were unexpected vacancies in the four parliamentary seats last Tuesday (Dec.27).
“I have to look into this first, the decision on the status of the four MPs will be announced after a period of 21 days,” he said as quoted by Bernama.
Johari was responding to a statement issued by Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee informing that the party had sent a notice to Dewan Rakyat Speaker on the unexpected vacancies of the four parliamentary seats which were occupied by its former leaders.
Ronald said, it was done according to Article 49A (3) of the Federal Constitution involving the four leaders who won the seats in the 15th General Election under the ticket of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Article 49A (3) reads, whenever the Speaker receives a written notice from any member of the Dewan Rakyat on the occurrence of a casual vacancy among the members, the Speaker shall establish that there is such a casual vacancy and notify the Election Commission within 21 days from the date he receives the written notice.
The four members of the Dewan Rakyat involved are Datuk Armizan Mohd. Ali (Papar); Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi); Datuk Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) and Datuk Matbali Musah (Sipitang).
The Beluran MP stressed that during the Dewan Rakyat session on 19th Dec. 2022 the four MPs were seated in the government bloc. Seating in the bloc that does not support Bersatu led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who is also the Bersatu President and Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin as the Opposition Leader was “crossing the floor” and had breached the agreement of the voters in the general election.
“The result from such action is that their Bersatu memberships have been dropped following the party constitution and Bersatu had been informed on that matter via a letter dated 21st Dec. 2022.
“As such according to Article 49A (3), Federal Constitution the four MPs concerned will cease their position as Members of Dewan Rakyat and their seats should be left vacant,” Ronald said.- Malaysia World News
