12-11-2022, 08:56 PM
Must ‘Bersatu 4’ quit seats? Yes says ex-minister, no says lawyer
![[Image: Wan-Junaidi-Tuanku-Jaafar-Fuad-Tengku-Ahmad-FMT.jpg]](https://s3media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Wan-Junaidi-Tuanku-Jaafar-Fuad-Tengku-Ahmad-FMT.jpg)
PETALING JAYA: Four MPs among Sabah Bersatu leaders said to have left the party must vacate their seats in the Dewan Rakyat if their resignations are accepted, says a former law minister – but a constitutional lawyer says otherwise.
Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was law minister before the general election, said by-elections would be necessary under the anti-hopping law, which was drafted by a parliamentary committee which he headed.
His view was in contrast to that of constitutional lawyer Fuad Tengku Ahmad who said the four MPs had contested last month’s general election as candidates of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and not as candidates of Perikatan Nasional or Bersatu.
“Therefore, there is no breach of the constitution since the four MPs were elected under GRS,” he said.
The four newly-elected MPs are Armizan Ali (Papar), Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) and Matbali Musah (Sipitang).
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Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who was law minister before the general election, said by-elections would be necessary under the anti-hopping law, which was drafted by a parliamentary committee which he headed.
His view was in contrast to that of constitutional lawyer Fuad Tengku Ahmad who said the four MPs had contested last month’s general election as candidates of Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and not as candidates of Perikatan Nasional or Bersatu.
“Therefore, there is no breach of the constitution since the four MPs were elected under GRS,” he said.
The four newly-elected MPs are Armizan Ali (Papar), Khairul Firdaus Akhbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Jonathan Yasin (Ranau) and Matbali Musah (Sipitang).
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