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 7, 2022 The steering committee for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on transformation and political stability is expected to meet with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar this afternoon. This is following the minister’s confirmation yesterday that the proposed anti-party hopping bill will not be tabled during […]
April 7, 2022 Bagaimanapun pembentangan RUU ditangguhkan buat kali kedua, dalam usaha mendapatkan majoriti dua pertiga Ahli Parlimen termasuk pembangkang. Ahli Parlimen Kerajaan dan pembangkang Malaysia pada Khamis mencapai kata sepakat untuk menyokong satu pindaan ke atas Perlembagaan Persekutuan, bagi memberikan kuasa kepada Parlimen untuk menggubal rang undang-undang melarang Ahli Dewan Rakyat bertukar parti. Pada […]
April 7, 2022 The proposed anti-hopping law will not be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday after all. The proposed law has been deferred again after the Cabinet, which met yesterday, called for more study to be done on the definition of “party hopping”. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk […]
April 6, 2022 De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has reportedly confirmed that the proposed anti-party hopping bill will not be tabled during the special parliamentary sitting on Monday. “Yes, it has been deferred,” The Star quoted him as confirming a cabinet decision. Nevertheless, the Dewan Rakyat sitting slated to be held on Monday will still […]
April 5, 2022 Pakatan Harapan (PH) top guns today pledged their commitment to supporting the soon-to-be tabled Federal Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill on Anti-Party Hopping and Limiting the Tenure of the Prime Minister, after a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob this morning. In a statement, the leaders from PKR, DAP, Parti […]
April 2, 2022 A total of 39 Members of Parliament (MPs) have switched political allegiance since 2018, according to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. He said this had led to political instability in Malaysia, with the country witnessing three prime ministers being appointed in a single parliamentary term. […]
April 2, 2022 RECALLING parliament for a special meeting on April 11 so the anti-party hopping bill could be tabled is not yet a certainty, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today. He said the cabinet will only decide on the date at its weekly meeting this […]
March 30, 2022 A recall petition would be preferable to enacting laws to prevent party-hopping as the latter would give political parties too much control over their lawmakers, a lawyer formerly with electoral watchdog group Bersih 2.0 has suggested. Amid proposals to amend the laws to prevent party-hopping, New Sin Yew urged instead for the implementation […]
March 30, 2022 Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar today clarified to the Senate the three main criteria, as contained in the in the administrative draft of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill, that define party hopping by a Member of Parliament (MP). He said the first […]
March 24, 2022 The Anti-Party Hopping Bill will be tabled at a special parliamentary sitting, which has been scheduled for April 11, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Wan Junaidi said he had discussed the date with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. “I […]
