Removal Of Bersatu Reps Will Backfire Warns Academic

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(From left) Zolkifly Lazim, Dr Afif Bahardin, Zulkifli Ibrahim and Khaliq Mehtab Ishaq after they were removed from the Penang state assembly on Monday.PETALING JAYA: The Penang state assembly’s decision to vacate the seats of four Bersatu representatives will backfire on the government, a political scientist has warned.
Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University told FMT that Perikatan Nasional (PN), of which Bersatu is a component, will capitalise on the incident to gain sympathy votes in the upcoming elections in six states, including Penang.
He said the coalition would portray itself as a victim of the government’s oppression.
“Instead of quelling it, this decision to vacate the seats of the Bersatu assemblymen would help the green wave,” he said, referring to the swing of support towards PN.
Wong Chin Huat.Wong also said the four were likely to win back their seats in the Penang election.
On Monday, assemblymen Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya), Zulkifli Ibrahim (Sungai Acheh), Khaliq Mehtab Ishaq (Bertam) and Zolkifly Lazim (Teluk Bahang) were removed from the state assembly after a motion was passed with a voice vote.
They won their seats in the 14th general election on the Pakatan Harapan ticket.
They were deemed to have lost their seats after Bersatu left PH in 2020. The motion before the assembly cited the anti-hopping provision contained in Article 14A of the state constitution.
Wong said the state government missed its chance to send a nuanced message that it was only against party hopping and was not oppressing the opposition.
“Penang Pakatan Harapan’s shortsightedness now leaves it with no defence against the charge of oppressing the opposition,” he said. “Sadly, PH and the unity government have been penny wise and pound foolish in their thinking.”
He nevertheless dismissed PN’s criticism that Penang’s anti-hopping provision was inconsistent with the federal anti-hopping law. - FMT

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