KUALA LUMPUR – Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi insists he remains loyal to Bersatu, despite recently declaring his support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
His statement also hinted that he will not bow to threats and will still defend the seat he won, even though it is now a target of the party to be vacated to make way for by-elections.
“I am still a Bersatu member and loyal to the party,” he told Scoop today.
He said this when asked to comment on Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council member Mohd Rafiq Abdullah’s statement that the Tanjong Karang parliamentary seat is now the main target to be vacated in order for a by-election to be held.
Rafiq said the action was in line with the decision made through a special MPT meeting of the party to take legal action against its treacherous representatives.
According to him, Zulkafperi “broke his promise” when he made a statutory declaration (SD) supporting Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and vowed not to betray the party after five MPs withdrew their support.
When asked if the legal action the party wants to take is meant to intimidate and threaten its members, Zulkafperi did not rule out the possibility.
“That may be one of the reasons,” he said.
Zulkafperi became the sixth Bersatu MP to express support for Anwar’s government.
The other five are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
Yesterday, Bersatu secretary-general, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, announced that the party would take legal action against elected representatives who it deems as traitors to the party.
He said the party also agreed to amend its constitution to prevent similar treacherous acts from repeating in the future.
Following that, Syed Hussin ‘reprimanded’ Hamzah to be more professional without having to threaten party members.
The Bukit Gantang MP is also ready to face any legal action, but says such threats are meaningless coming from Hamzah. – January 30, 2024