KUALA LUMPUR – Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers will wear white armbands starting next week during Parliamentary proceedings to protest Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul’s decision against vacating the seats of six MPs sacked from Bersatu.
Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu-PN) announced the move at a press conference after the opposition bloc walked out of the Dewan Rakyat.
He said the armbands would symbolise their protest and disappointment with the speaker’s decision.
“This is a ‘black’ decision made in this honourable Dewan, which could destroy the system as well as the country,” said Takiyuddin, who is also PAS secretary-general.
Takiyuddin highlighted that Johari’s decision contrasts with that of Kelantan State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, who vacated the Nenggiri state seat held by Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, who is also Gua Musang MP.
“According to Article 49 of the Federal Constitution, an MP who ceases to be a party member should automatically lose their seat. But the (Dewan Rakyat) speaker decided otherwise,” he said.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-PN) criticised Johari’s decision, asserting his superior knowledge of his party members’ positions.
“I am the secretary-general of Bersatu, so I am the one who knows the positions of the party members. The speaker is not a Bersatu member and knows nothing about the positions of the members here. He made a decision without understanding the (Federal) Constitution,” Hamzah said.
Hamzah also accused Johari of partisanship, alleging he was working for a specific “party”.
Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-PN) had earlier accused Johari of “tarnishing” the Federal Constitution by not vacating the seats of the six lawmakers expelled by the party.
Muhyiddin’s claims followed Johari’s letters on July 9, explaining his decision to allow the now-independent MPs to retain their seats. Bersatu had issued a notice of seat vacancies on June 20 after the six lawmakers declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The lawmakers involved are Azizi, Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tg Karang). – July 11, 2024