SHAH ALAM – Former Bersatu Supreme Council Member Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah has announced plans to appeal his expulsion from the party, alleging that the disciplinary process violated principles of fairness and natural justice.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Saifuddin said he received formal notice of his dismissal from the party on Jan 6, following a decision by the its Disciplinary Board.
"The notice stated briefly that my membership was terminated for violating Clause 9.1.4 of the Bersatu Constitution," he said.
The Indera Mahkota Member of Parliament said the complaints against him included allegations of tarnishing the party’s image, attacking party leaders and president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, questioning disciplinary decisions and calling for Muhyiddin’s resignation.
He said he attended a disciplinary hearing at the Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya on Nov 6, 2025, "in good faith", but immediately raised concerns over the board’s composition and conduct.
"I asked that two members of the Disciplinary Board step aside due to clear and serious conflicts of interest, which compromised my right to a fair hearing," he said.
One of them was board chairman Datuk Mohammed Radzi Manan, whom Saifuddin said is the father-in-law of Bersatu vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and the father of Bersatu Srikandi deputy chief Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi — both members of the party’s Supreme Leadership Council.
Saifuddin pointed to a Facebook post by Faizal dated Sept 30, 2025, which he said had urged the disciplinary board to take immediate action against party members, arguing that it demonstrated prejudgment.
"The family relationship raises a very high risk of internal information leakage and undermines transparency and credibility in the disciplinary process," he said.
The second board member he named was Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif, whom Saifuddin said worked under Selangor Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
He cited a media statement issued the same day by Bersatu Selangor assemblymen calling for firm and harsh action against certain members, saying this raised concerns that the proceedings could be influenced.
Saifuddin, who is also the Pahang Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman said his request for both members to recuse themselves was rejected, with the board responding that disciplinary proceedings were not equivalent to court proceedings.
"I reject that reasoning. A disciplinary board does not need to be a court to uphold the principles of natural justice, conflict of interest and a fair trial," he said.
Saifuddin also questioned the structure of the disciplinary process, claiming the board acted simultaneously as investigator, prosecutor and decision-maker in his case.
"This is fundamentally unfair," he said, adding that the same body investigating him was also the one deciding his fate.
He added that he had requested that Muhyiddin be called to appear before the board, as one of the allegations made against him involved that he had suggested the party president step down.
"Those questions can only be answered by Muhyiddin himself, not by the complainant, investigator or the disciplinary board," Saifuddin said.
However, he said the board did not respond to the request.
Saifuddin said he subsequently asked for a new disciplinary session that would meet his demands for fairness and due process, but received no response until the expulsion notice was issued.
He said he would submit an appeal to the party’s Appeals Board in the near future.
Saifuddin also thanked party members, coalition colleagues and members of the public who had contacted him to express support following news of his expulsion.
In November last year, Saifuddin was summoned by the disciplinary board to assist with investigations into allegations of his involvement in a plot to unseat Bersatu president, Muhyiddin.
Saifuddin had previously stated that he was scheduled to meet the board at 2pm on Thursday, Nov 6, 2025, at the Bersatu headquarters in Petaling Jaya.
The sacking followed a series of leadership changes within the coalition.
On Oct 27, 2025, Saifuddin and former Perlis menteri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli were removed as PN chairmen for Pahang and Perlis, respectively.