Fadhli questions DAP’s principles on reps switching support
PAS info chief says DAP had no issue with six now-former Bersatu MPs backing the unity government, thereby 'violating' their voters' mandate
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari asked DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook whether he agreed that the six Bersatu MPs had violated their mandate by declaring support for the government.
PETALING JAYA: A PAS leader has questioned DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook’s consistency on the issue of elected representatives switching support, amid the political crisis in Negeri Sembilan.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said Loke had accused Barisan Nasional’s (BN) 14 assemblymen of violating the mandate given by their voters in the 2023 state election, since they contested under the unity pact with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“I want to ask Loke this: when the six Bersatu MPs declared support for the prime minister, did that violate the mandate given by their voters or not?
“Why did DAP also support the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s decision not to declare those six seats vacant, when they also clearly violated the mandate of the voters who elected them in the 2022 general election?” he said in a Facebook post.
The six Bersatu MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim were Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).
Bersatu later said the MPs ceased to be party members after failing to respond to a notice to confirm their loyalty. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul ruled that this meant they were sacked by Bersatu, allowing the six MPs to keep their seats.
All six are now pro-government, independent MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
Fadhli, the Pasir Mas MP, said the anti-hopping law did not bar parties from switching support en bloc, only individual MPs from defecting to other parties.
“At least Negeri Sembilan Umno decided en bloc (to retract support for the menteri besar) rather than through individual defections like the six Bersatu MPs.”
The 36-member Negeri Sembilan assembly comprises 17 PH assemblymen, followed by 14 from BN and five from Perikatan Nasional (PN). A majority of 19 seats is needed to form the state government.
Yesterday, the BN assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin Harun and later announced that they had a simple majority to form a new administration, with the backing of PN’s five representatives.
Loke had slammed BN for its actions, saying that forming a “backdoor government” by unseating Aminuddin would be a betrayal of the mandate that the BN assemblymen received from Negeri Sembilan voters.
Aminuddin meanwhile said the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan wanted him to remain in the role until the issue of his majority support in the state assembly is clarified.
PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said Loke had accused Barisan Nasional’s (BN) 14 assemblymen of violating the mandate given by their voters in the 2023 state election, since they contested under the unity pact with Pakatan Harapan (PH).
“I want to ask Loke this: when the six Bersatu MPs declared support for the prime minister, did that violate the mandate given by their voters or not?
“Why did DAP also support the Dewan Rakyat speaker’s decision not to declare those six seats vacant, when they also clearly violated the mandate of the voters who elected them in the 2022 general election?” he said in a Facebook post.
The six Bersatu MPs who declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim were Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), and Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar).
Bersatu later said the MPs ceased to be party members after failing to respond to a notice to confirm their loyalty. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul ruled that this meant they were sacked by Bersatu, allowing the six MPs to keep their seats.
All six are now pro-government, independent MPs in the Dewan Rakyat.
Fadhli, the Pasir Mas MP, said the anti-hopping law did not bar parties from switching support en bloc, only individual MPs from defecting to other parties.
“At least Negeri Sembilan Umno decided en bloc (to retract support for the menteri besar) rather than through individual defections like the six Bersatu MPs.”
The 36-member Negeri Sembilan assembly comprises 17 PH assemblymen, followed by 14 from BN and five from Perikatan Nasional (PN). A majority of 19 seats is needed to form the state government.
Yesterday, the BN assemblymen withdrew their support for Aminuddin Harun and later announced that they had a simple majority to form a new administration, with the backing of PN’s five representatives.
Loke had slammed BN for its actions, saying that forming a “backdoor government” by unseating Aminuddin would be a betrayal of the mandate that the BN assemblymen received from Negeri Sembilan voters.
Aminuddin meanwhile said the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan wanted him to remain in the role until the issue of his majority support in the state assembly is clarified.
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