Reining in the rogue MPs
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu, which has seen six of its MPs choosing to support the Prime Minister, is moving to prevent any more breaking of ranks.

The Opposition party will call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on March 2 to amend its party constitution to automatically expel elected representatives who go rogue.

Bersatu leaders said this amendment would see the rogue MPs becoming Independents. If they try to join any other party, their seats would be declared vacant and by-elections called under the anti-hopping law.

In a text to party grassroots leaders yesterday, Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris said the party decided on the move at a supreme council meeting on Monday night.

“The special delegates’ meeting will be held at the Ideal Convention Centre in Shah Alam to amend Clause 10 of the party constitution,” said the text from Razali.

Machang MP and Bersatu youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, who confirmed that the EGM would be held at 3pm on March 2, called upon all delegates, especially the youth leaders, to come out in full force to pass the amendment.

“The mood on the ground is that the six MPs who shifted allegiance must be punished as the grassroots voted them to represent Perikatan and Bersatu,” he said.

Another supreme council member Datuk Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the amendments would see the automatic dissolution of party membership if any elected representative jumps or shifts allegiance.

“This includes if they become Independents without party approval. We believe with the amendments, this will trigger anti-hopping rules,” said Wan Saiful.

Another leader who attended the meeting on Monday said the constant talk that “more MPs will jump” pushed the party to hold the EGM as quickly as possible.

“President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been quite clear that this cannot go on and party leaders agree the amendment must be done as soon as possible,” he said.

The call for the amendment to the party constitution has been gaining ground since the six MPs went rogue and expressed support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since late last year.

In return, they were given MP allocations and positions in the Federal Government.

The six 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.
PETALING JAYA: Bersatu, which has seen six of its MPs choosing to support the Prime Minister, is moving to prevent any more breaking of ranks.