KUALA LUMPUR: The seven Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) elected representatives, who declared their support for the unity government, have raised questions on the legitimacy of the notice sent to them by the party to declare their stance.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Gua Musang member of Parliament Mohd Azizi Mohd Naim said this was the reason he did not respond to the notice before its deadline on May 31.
He told TV3's Buletin Utama today that the group wrote a letter to Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin seeking explanation on the legitimacy of the notice.
"In the letter, we are also seeking explanation from the party on who are involved in the special committee tasked with scrutinising the response to the notice from all the representatives."
Azizi added that the group plans to respond to the notice only after the party has provided an explanation in response to their inquiries.
"On May 30, we were merely instructed to submit our response within the deadline. However, the party did not cooperate; they did not provide us with explanations to our inquiries," he said.
It was reported that all Bersatu representatives were given 14 days until May 31 to state their stand after the seven elected representatives declared their support for the unity government.
Apart from Azizi, the other Bersatu MPs, who declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang); Zahari Kechik (Jeli); Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan) and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanafi (Tanjong Karang).
One assemblyman who has declared support for Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amiruddin Shaari is Selat Klang's Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari.
Earlier today, Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Dr. Ronald Kiandee said memberships of the seven elected representatives have automatically ceased after they failed to adhere to the party's directive.