KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul told the August House on Wednesday that he had not received any written evidence from Perikatan Nasional (PN) regarding the status of Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal.

The speaker said that based on records, former Bersatu members are still under PN.

"There has to be black and white by PN for me to remove him. Bersatu has [sent a letter] but not PN. Our record is with PN, not Bersatu or PAS," he said.

Johari said this during a question-and answer-session, when Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) rose from his seat to question Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz’s position, after the Bukit Gantang MP rose to pose a question to the agriculture and food security minister.

"Mr Speaker, Bukit Gantang (the seat) is written [as belonging to] PN. He is not in PN anymore. How can he still be sitting there?” asked Ahmad Fadhli.

The Bukit Gantang MP is among six former Bersatu members who have been sacked by the party for declaring their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The others are Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang) and Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

On June 20, Bersatu chief whip and vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee had submitted a notice to Johari regarding vacancy for the six seats as the MPs were no longer Bersatu party members.

The six MPs were given a notice of termination of party membership on June 12 when they failed to respond to the Bersatu Supreme Leadership Council's written instructions to pledge allegiance to the party.

On July 11, the six MPs reportedly said they would continue to serve as independent representatives, after Johari decided that their seats did not have to be vacated.