IPOH: Perak Umno is ready to face any potential by-elections that may arise from the recent amendments to the constitution of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), according to Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Mentri Besar stated that the party is always prepared in case a by-election is called for any reason. “If there aren’t any, there will be no problems and we will focus on preparing for the upcoming general election,” he said during a press conference after distributing Hari Raya gifts to uniformed units and other agencies at the State Secretariat building in Ipoh on Wednesday (April 3).
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When asked about Umno’s readiness to face potential by-elections following the approval of amendments to Bersatu’s constitution, Saarani explained that the Registrar of Societies (ROS) recently gave the green light for these changes to take effect starting on Monday (April 1).
On March 11, Bersatu’s president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and party secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin submitted the approved amendments to ROS after they were endorsed at a special general assembly held on March 2.
The amendments were introduced after six Bersatu MPs publicly expressed their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, namely: Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).
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Furthermore, on March 7, Bersatu’s Selat Klang state assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari declared his support for Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.
Saarani expressed his belief that the amendment to Bersatu’s constitution may not directly impact the aforementioned six MPs. “I’m not certain if it will have a retrospective effect, but it is more geared towards addressing current and future situations,” he stated.
He also mentioned that it would be up to the Dewan Rakyat Speaker to decide whether the anti-party hopping law would affect those targeted by the amendments. “If the Speaker rules that they are affected, then there could potentially be six by-elections, two of which might take place in Perak,” he added.
