KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 — Sri Gading MP Datuk Shahruddin Md Salleh, who resigned abruptly as a deputy minister previously, is no longer a member of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia.

Bersatu secretary-general Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the party had on July 10 verified that Shahruddin had issued a notice to inform the Dewan Rakyat Speaker that he was not seated together with the government bloc led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also the party president and its acting chairman.

"Therefore, it is notified that YB Datuk Dr Sharuddin Mat Salleh’s membership has ended immediately in accordance with Articles 10.2.2 and 10.2.3 of Bersatu’s Constitution,” Hamzah said in the statement released today.

He thanked Shahruddin for his service while with Bersatu.

Hamzah also warned Bersatu members against supporting former party leaders in any campaign intended to damage the party’s reputation.

"In this matter, Bersatu will not hesitate to impose strict disciplinary action towards any members that breach and contravene the party’s constitution,” he added.

Hamzah did not name these former Bersatu leaders who he said had lost their membership status, but Bersatu had in May similarly announced the membership termination of party co-founder Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and four other MPs who sat in the Opposition side of the Dewan Rakyat during the one-day May 18 sitting.

Dr Mahathir and these MPs are currently embroiled in a court case challenging their removal from Bersatu although Muar MP Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has withdrawn his name as plaintiff.

Shahruddin, who resigned as deputy minister last month, confirmed that his Bersatu membership had been terminated when contacted by Malay Mail today.

He said Bersatu had notified him last week in a WhatsApp message.

Malay Mail has yet to receive a response from Shahruddin on what he will do next.

The Dewan Rakyat’s second meeting of the year started on July 13 and will go on for 25 days until August 27.

On June 2, Shahruddin was reported to have indicated his willingness to quit as deputy works minister if it meant that he could fully focus on Bersatu and if it would lead to a stronger Bersatu.

On June 4, Shahruddin was reported to have thanked Muhyiddin in a letter for giving him the chance to be part of the latter’s government, also informing the latter that he remains an MP sitting as part of the ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition under Muhyiddin’s leadership.