KUALA LUMPUR: There is still time for the seven Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) elected representatives, who declared their support for the unity government, to change their stand and return to the fold.
Bersatu information chief Datuk Razali Idris said the party is ready to initiate a discussion with the seven, dubbed as Bersatu 'rebels', if they come to meet the party over the matter.
"We are ready to discuss with them if they come to meet us and admit their mistakes," he said.
Razali was referring to the six members of Parliament and a Selangor state assemblyman, who have declared their support for the unity government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.
They are Bukit Gantang MP Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Selat Klang assemblyman Datuk Abdul Rashid Asari.
In the event the six MPs refused to budge from their stance, Razali challenged them to vacate their seats, moreover after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) recently approved the amendments to the Bersatu's Constitution aimed at preventing its elected representatives from switching political fold.
"If they are 'anak jantan', please vacate your seat. Do not need to wait for any letters (to inform them to vacate their seat) or run away to hide themselves.
"We do not need to send them letters. They are the ones who should take note of the latest developments with regard to the changes to the party's Constitution," he said.
Razali was commenting on the statement Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul who told Berita Harian yesterday that the latter has yet to receive any notification on the Bersatu constitutional amendments.
Johari added that he has yet to initiate the next course of action involving the status of the six Bersatu MPs since he has yet to receive any notification from Bersatu over the matter.
Asked on when Bersatu would notify Johari on the matter, Razali said the party has agreed for its secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin to inform the speaker on the decision by RoS to approve the changes to the party's Constitution.
"I can confirm that the (Bersatu) secretary-general will be given the responsibility to notify the matter (RoS' approval on the changes to the party's constitution to the Dewan Rakyat speaker).
"We will leave it to him to decide when he will notify the Dewan Rakyat speaker," Razali said.