From America with love, Nazri tells Hamzah to stop going after his own MPs for exercising their freedom of expression

The six “rogue” Bersatu MPs

KL, 5 April: Malaysia’s envoy to the US Nazri Aziz is living proof that a posh posting overseas needn’t necessarily be a “cold storage” aimed at silencing a good politician. In fact, I believe the man Umno calls “Chief” will speak his mind on critical domestic political issues even if they send him to Uranus as our ambassador. 

MALAYSIA

Six Bersatu MPs who declared support for PM Anwar don’t have to vacate their seats, says Nazri Aziz

Astro Awani reports: Nazri, who is Padang Rengas Umno chief, said the six Bersatu MPs do not have to vacate their seats as they did not violate the Anti-Party Hopping law.  

The main purpose of implementing the Anti-Party Hopping Act was to prevent attempts to topple the government such as the “Sheraton Move” back in 2020.

“I was one of the committee members of the Anti-Party Hopping Act in Parliament at that time.

“What the six MPs did does not bring down the government, but strengthened it and they never declared to leave the party.

“They give support not to topple the government, but to strengthen the government,” he said.

A trained lawyer, Nazri was our Law Minister for a while so his views on the matter aren’t mere rhetorics. But Hamzah Zainuddin, the Opposition Leader from Bersatu party who said he would get the six “rogue” Bersatu MPs by amending the party’s constitution (which was approved by the ROS last Tuesday), may end up eating humble pie.

From the same news article:

Nazri also stressed that the Anti-Party Hopping Act was implemented to prevent MPs from gaining profit from the seats they won.

He explained that MPs could have traded their parliamentary seats for personal gain if it wasn’t for the Act.

“With this Act in place, no MPs can any longer gain profit by demanding a certain amount in return for their support. Therefore, this Act has prevented MPs from profiting from the seats they won,” he was quoted as saying.

Nazri, who is also the Malaysian Ambassador to the United States, said that the issue of declaring support for Anwar is part of freedom of expression and is a fundamental right of Parliament guaranteed by the Federal Constitution.

“They are free to support or vote for any Bill presented by the government and Bersatu can’t stop them through their recent party constitution amendment” 

Nazri also said the Anti-Party Hopping law also enacted to save government expenses as there is no need to hold by-elections as some parties tends to intentionally vacate their seats.

“It is very irresponsible if Bersatu wants six by-elections to be held simply because of revenge and anger towards the six MPs. 

“They made a decision to support their prime minister for the sake of their voters without leaving the party, so why is Bersatu so angry?”

 

Hamzah, who resigned from UMNO after the party’s fall in the 2018 general election to join Mahathir Mohamad-Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu, told his six MPs on Tuesday (after the ROS had approved the party’s Constitution amendments, that they would lose their seats. 

Excerpts from the FMT’s Safe? Waif for our surprise:

One of the six Bersatu MPs, Suhaili Abdul Rahman, yesterday said he would not have to vacate his seat as the amended constitution only took effect on April 1.

He pointed out that he and the five other Bersatu MPs had declared their support for Anwar between last October and January

However, Hamzah told Suhaili it was not up to Suhaili to determine if he and the other five MPs would have to relinquish their positions.

“Suhaili may claim they are safe, but it’s not up to him to decide,” Hamzah said.

While Hamzah did not reveal what steps Bersatu would be taking against the six MPs, he stressed that they would be in accordance with the law.

“I won’t show them my cards,” he said.

The six Bersatu MPs are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Tanjong Karang MP Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi.

They had expressed support for Anwar to ensure that their constituencies receive the promised federal funds for infrastructure and development.