KUALA LUMPUR – Three out of the four Bersatu MPs who declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership have had their seats moved in the Dewan Rakyat.
According to a tweet posted by Deputy Finance Minister I Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, the seat change took effect at 2.30pm today.
“They’re still in the opposition bloc, but they’re separated from the other opposition (lawmakers). Yes, they’re still in the opposition,” Ahmad, who is also Umno’s Pontian MP, said in the post where he also shared photos of the seats’ revised location.
The three MPs who have had their seats changed are Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik.
Ahmad added that Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, who was the first Bersatu lawmaker to back Anwar’s administration, has allegedly requested to remain seated with his opposition peers.
In a separate post, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan said the three MPs are now located behind Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s seat, which was relocated after his party Muda withdrew support for the unity government in September.
“(The seats of) three Bersatu MPs (have been) moved to behind the Muar MP (Syed Saddiq),” the DAP lawmaker said in the brief post alongside a photo of the three relocated seats.
Earlier on during Parliament proceedings, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim attempted to raise the matter of the seats’ relocation, citing Standing Order 18(1) on matters of urgent public importance.
“They haven’t jumped from the party (Bersatu), they just expressed their support (for Anwar’s leadership). Why have they been moved?” the PAS lawmaker questioned.
Deputy Speaker Alice Lau, however, did not entertain the interjection.
Last week, Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said he had received written requests by the four Bersatu MPs to change their seats in Parliament.
“I will ensure they are relocated to seats where they feel more comfortable. Understanding their sentiments, I aim for a win-win situation and strive to be a good judge,” Johari said during a press conference.
Iskandar and Suhaili have both been suspended from Bersatu for four and six years, respectively, by the party’s disciplinary board.
All four lawmakers said they decided to switch their support to Anwar after taking into consideration the welfare of their constituents. – November 14, 2023