Johari Has Not Received Notice From Bersatu Regarding Decision On Six Parliamentary Seats

IPOH, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that he has yet to receive any notice from Bersatu regarding his decision that there are no vacant seats involving the six members of Parliament who were stripped of their party membership. 

“So far, I have not received anything,” he said during a press conference following his visit to the Perak State Legislative Assembly today.

Johari said that according to the constitution, the speaker’s decision on matters related to the Lower House is final.

However, he said that as Malaysians, anyone has the right to pursue court action, as this is a fundamental right of every citizen of the country.

“To me, it’s their (Bersatu’s) right, they can excercise it. I haven’t heard anything yet, but in the statement issued by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin), he said that they might (take legal action),” he said.

Muhyiddin was previously reported as saying that Bersatu would engage a legal expert to take an appropriate course of action following the decision to uphold the Federal Constitution and the party’s constitution.

He also expressed disappointment with Johari’s decision as Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council had already terminated the party membership of the six MPs and that they can no longer represent Bersatu in the Dewan Rakyat.

Regarding PN’s call for a special Dewan Rakyat meeting to be held to take decisive action on the Palestine issue, Johari said the matter had already been addressed in a statement made in the Dewan Negara last Thursday.

“The incident happened so fast, we immediately took the initiative to have the Foreign Minister provide a special explanation in the Dewan Negara

“In fact, the rally at Axiata Arena yesterday attracted a large crowd, many of whom requested that the leaders address the issue. I also took the opportunity to explain what had transpired, as I was the last Malaysian to meet the late Ismail Haniyeh,” he said.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, in his statement for the motion of solidarity with the Palestinian people at the Senate sitting, said the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh has some huge implications for global stability and peace with the threat of triggering a regional war in the Middle East.

-- BERNAMA