KUALA LUMPUR – Bersatu has hit out at the latest actions of two of its MPs to express support for the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is president of rival PKR, describing them as "dishonourable".
Its information head Datuk Razali Idris said the move by Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik to declare backing for Anwar is embarrassing for their present party which is considering legal action against them.
He pointed out that both of them are members of Bersatu but had contested and won their constituencies using the PAS logo.
"Mohd Azizi and Zahari were selected as candidates to contest the seats in the 15th general election (GE15) last November by the supreme council of Bersatu.
"They received their letters of candidacy from PAS. If they have no shame for (what they have done to) Bersatu, they should at least have some shame with this party (PAS)," he was quoted as saying by Berita Harian.
Azizi’s Gua Musang constituency and Zahari’s Jeli constituency are in Kelantan where PAS, which is Bersatu’s ally in Perikatan Nasional (PN) is the most dominant party.
Razali, who is also Terengganu Bersatu chief, said that both PN parties are now consulting their lawyers on the course of action to be taken.
"We suggest that lawyers take the case to court and ask Mohd Azizi and Zahari to vacate the Gua Musang and Jeli parliamentary seats," he said.
Reacting to the duo’s claims that they were declaring support for Anwar's leadership in order to ensure the welfare of their constituents following the government's failure to provide allocations to opposition MPs, Razali said the PAS-led Kelantan government has never marginalised opposition MPs.
"We are informed that the PAS government of Kelantan has resolved the problems faced by opposition MPs after leading the state for the past 33 years," he said.
Azizi made his announcement on Wednesday while Zahari followed suit yesterday.
Their actions came in the wake of two other Bersatu MPs declaring the same 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 said earlier today revealed that the four have 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. – The Vibes, November 9, 2023
