KELANTAN Bersatu insists that it will not face a significant setback and has not been singed after two of its MPs from the state made the decision to support the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is president of rival outfit PKR.
Its chairman Datuk Kamaruddin Md Noor, who is also the assemblyman for Ayer Lanas, said the party’s position is stable, reasoning that many loyalists have vowed to remain together until the 16th general election (GE16), which is due in four years’ time.
He was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying that Kelantan Bersatu has left it to the party's central disciplinary board for any action against the two lawmakers who announced their move to support Anwar’s leadership of the country.
"They have already made a decision, but we leave it to the disciplinary board for further action. The decision may take time because it has to go through certain procedures," he was reported as saying today.
Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik recently declared their backing for Anwar, stressing that they were doing so to help their constituents, and help enable much-needed development and funding for their respective areas.
Their actions have raised questions about whether there will be more Bersatu legislators in the state who will follow suit.
Thus far, there has been no such move from the party's assemblymen in Kelantan.
Bersatu information head Datuk Razali reminded the two MPs last week that they had both contested and won their constituencies using the PAS logo.
PAS, a key ally of Bersatu in Perikatan Nasional (PN), is the dominant party in Kelantan, which it has ruled since 1990.
Both parties were reported to be consulting their lawyers on the course of action to be taken, including demanding that the duo vacate their parliamentary seats.
Their actions came in the wake of two other Bersatu MPs declaring support for the prime minister over the last three weeks.
Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid had declared his support for Anwar on October 12, and Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman did the same on October 30.
They all claimed that they are still loyal to their party Bersatu.
However, in a related development, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul revealed on November 9 that the four requested that their seating in the House be changed.
They are currently seated with their party colleagues among the opposition backbenchers in the Dewan Rakyat and have asked to be moved.
Meanwhile, Kamaruddin today also refuted claims that many Bersatu members have been involved in money laundering, such as in the alleged case of one individual known to be a senior party leader.
He stressed that it is a simply an accusation by some quarters to want to see Bersatu become weak.
"If that (money-laundering) had happened, they would definitely be arrested and the government will not allow it to happen," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.
He added that the allegation could not have come from Bersatu leaders as they have never made any such assertion on this before. – The Vibes, November 14, 2023
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