Party hopping has become common practice in the Malaysian political system. Election seasons are notorious for rumours of MPs being offered positions in government, millions of ringgit, and more, to switch political allegiances. These corrupt practices are endemic and must be curbed.
While an MP does have the freedom to associate, the often underhanded ways in which this occurs leaves voters feeling betrayed and risks eroding the trust of the public in the election process. It reached its head in 2020 when several political betrayals caused the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan federal government.
An anti-hopping law must be introduced which includes mechanisms that allow for an MP to switch parties while also preserving the integrity of the electoral process. This may include a process for new elections when such changes happen. In any case, the main goal must be to increase transparency and curb the corrupt practices used to buy over MPs, this is where money politics must be eliminated.
April 21, 2022 Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is optimistic that the parliamentary special select committee on the anti-hopping law, can prepare a statement containing the proposal for the relevant bill within a month. Wan Junaidi said this was because the committee members are legal experts, however, […]
April 20, 2022 Discussions and findings that were presented to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) are protected under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said the PSC on the anti party-hopping Bill met for the first time on April 15 and they […]
April 20, 2022 In response to former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusoff’s statement regarding anti-party hopping laws, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the former must understand the need to set up a Special Select Committee under Standing Order 81 (1). In a statement, Wan Junadidi […]
April 16, 2022 The federal Opposition is ready to talk if Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob wishes to extend the federal government’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Opposition pact, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said tonight. However, Loke said the government must first make good on the agreement to deliver proposed anti-hopping laws […]
April 12, 2022 THE government and Opposition MPs have agreed for matters relating to the proposed constitutional amendments to be referred to the Parliament Special Select Committee (PSSC) before it is tabled in the next Parliamentary sitting. The Dewan Rakyat did not vote on the constitutional amendment after reaching a consensus to let PSSC to […]
April 11, 2022 The tabling of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No.3) 2022 in Parliament to pave the way for the formulation of the Anti-Party Hopping Bill is centred on the people’s interests and a manifestation that the country was moving towards healthier politics, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said. In saying this, the prime minister […]
April 11, 2022 Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has suggested that the definition of party-hopping be enshrined in the Federal Constitution instead of as an Act so that it would be safeguarded by a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat. Debating the bill on the constitutional amendment to facilitate the tabling of the anti-hopping […]
April 11, 2022 The much-anticipated amendments to the Federal Constitution were tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today paving the way for the Anti-Party Hopping Bill to be tabled at a later date. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar who tabled the bill during a special […]
April 11, 2022 The government and Pakatan Harapan have reached an agreement on three points relating to the proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution, the first being to fine-tune the definitions of restrictions for elected representatives to switch parties as stated in Article 10. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri […]
April 11, 2022 The anti-hopping bill will be tabled and passed in Parliament before the end of May, says the Pakatan Harapan presidential council. It said the decision on the matter was reached after discussions with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Yesterday, Ismail said the proposed law to ban party-hopping by MPs would be tabled […]
