KUALA LUMPUR (April 2): The Registrar of Societies (RoS) has approved changes to Bersatu's constitution, which entail the cessation of membership for elected representatives who support any party contrary to Bersatu’s interests.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, Bersatu secretary general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin expressed the party's gratitude for RoS' approval of the amendments to the party’s constitution.

Hamzah noted that the party would take necessary follow-up action to ensure all subsequent measures align with its constitution and legal requirements, though he refrained from providing further details.

During an extraordinary general meeting on March 2, Bersatu approved three amendments to Clause 10, involving Articles 10.4, 10.5 and 10.6, which pertain to matters of resignation and dismissal of party members.

Under the approved amendment, any Bersatu-elected representative who defects from the party would automatically cease to be a member.

Also, any Bersatu-elected representative who defects from the party will automatically forfeit one’s membership, triggering the anti-hopping law outlined in Article 49A of the Federal Constitution and resulting in the vacation of one’s seat.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reportedly stated that once the party's constitutional amendments have been approved, the party will submit a notice to Parliament to vacate all six seats of its members of Parliament (MPs) who pledged support for the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The six MPs are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar) and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

It is worth noting that Bersatu’s Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari also publicly declared his support for Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari on March 6.