KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members of parliament face expulsion and risk having their parliamentary seat declared vacant for joining political coalitions not affiliated with the party.
Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said this is reflected in the amendment made to the Umno Constitution last year aimed at preventing its MPs from switching sides and allegiance, including lending their support to the opposition in exchange for the prime minister's post.
The Umno secretary-general said the amendment to the party's constitution was made during the party's special general assembly which took place on Jan 13 last year.
"Following the amendment, Article 20.11 of the Umno Constitution states that the membership of an Umno member who is elected as an MP will be automatically stripped from the party if he or she joins a political coalition not affiliated with Umno.
"This is also applicable to any members who sign any agreement to form a political coalition with the opposing party which defies the decision made by Umno.
"The termination of membership will invoke the Anti-Hopping Law provision for the seat to be declared vacant which will result in a by-election to be called," he said in a statement yesterday.
He added that all Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs elected as an MP are bonded with a sum of RM100 million, with which an agreement and oath was signed before the Commissioner of Oath.
"Any breach (to the agreement) will obligate them to pay a sum of RM100 million to the party," he said.
Asyraf said the amendment to the party's constitution was made after learning the lesson from the political instability which enveloped the country after the 14th general election in 2018.
The statement by Asyraf came on the heels of the remarks made by Pas election director Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor last month, who claimed that Perikatan Nasional (PN) has already obtained sufficient numbers of statutory declarations (SD) to overthrow the unity government.
The Kedah Menteri Besar, however, did not provide details on the matter, including the number of SDs obtained.