KUALA LUMPUR (July 10): The six federal lawmakers who were stripped of their Bersatu membership have managed to retain their seats.

The decision was conveyed in a letter dated July 9 from Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul to the party's chief whip, Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee, Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said at a news conference on Wednesday.

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

They were sacked by Bersatu after openly pledging support to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.

Muhyiddin said that in the case of Suhaili, Johari had given a "weak excuse" for not vacating the seat, citing the Labuan MP's court case against Bersatu.

For the other five MPs, Muhyiddin did not specify the speaker's reason for retaining them, merely stating that the decision was based on shallow excuses and a flawed interpretation.

Muhyiddin noted that the speaker's decision violates Article 49A(3) of the Federal Constitution, known as the anti-hopping law. He added that Bersatu will engage legal experts to take further action to challenge the speaker's decision.

In a separate news conference, DAP secretary general Anthony Loke said that the party’s anti-hopping rule remains unaffected by the speaker’s decision regarding the six former Bersatu lawmakers.

DAP amended its constitution in 2022 to ensure that elected representatives who do not adhere to the party line on fundamental issues would automatically lose their membership.

Loke said that unlike Bersatu, which only amended its constitution this year, DAP had enacted the provision before the 15th general election.

“Therefore, all candidates running under our ticket as DAP party candidates are bound by the provisions in the party’s constitution.”