Why did Bersatu seek to vacate seats of MPs supporting the PM?

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Bersatu's Bid to Vacate Seats Explained by Anti-Defection Law Interpretation

Bersatu sought to vacate the seats of six Members of Parliament (MPs) who declared support for the Prime Minister, alleging these actions constituted political defection. The party's move, however, was rebuffed by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker, Tan Sri Johari Abdul, who ruled that supporting the government or its Bills does not automatically trigger a seat vacancy under the anti-defection law, a stance consistent with legal interpretations of parliamentary practice.
Speaker's Refusal of Bersatu's Notice

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul refused Bersatu's request to declare the seats of six MPs vacant. These MPs included Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), 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), and Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang). Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin confirmed receiving a letter from the Speaker's office formally communicating this refusal.
Interpretation of the Anti-Defection Law

Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, Malaysia's ambassador to the US, stated that the Speaker's decision aligns with the existing law against political defections, a piece of legislation Bersatu itself was involved in approving. He highlighted that the law contains provisions designed to protect MPs from losing their seats when they cross the political aisle or, by extension, support a government Bill, suggesting that such actions do not necessarily equate to formal defection.
Parliamentary Precedent for Supporting Government Bills

Nazri Abdul Aziz drew a parallel between the six MPs supporting the Prime Minister and opposition MPs supporting a government Bill, a common occurrence in parliamentary proceedings. He asserted that supporting the government's agenda or specific legislative proposals is a normal aspect of parliamentary practice and does not inherently constitute a breach of party loyalty that would warrant vacating a seat under anti-defection statutes. This interpretation suggests a distinction between overt party switching and supporting specific government initiatives.
Bersatu's Contemplation of Legal Action

Following the Speaker's decision, Bersatu has indicated its intention to explore legal avenues to challenge the ruling. Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin stated that the party would consider taking legal action to contest the Speaker's refusal to vacate the seats. This potential legal challenge aims to seek recourse against what Bersatu may perceive as an incorrect interpretation or application of parliamentary law concerning party defections and MP conduct.

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Why did Bersatu seek to vacate seats of MPs supporting the PM?

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