MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has cautioned elected representatives against prematurely vacating their parliamentary seats, arguing that lawmakers carry a moral and democratic responsibility to serve constituents until the end of their mandate.
Her remarks came amid mounting political debate following the resignation of Pandan MP Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who formally notified Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul today that they were vacating their seats ahead of the expiry of the 15th Parliament.
Azalina said although elected representatives possessed the democratic right to resign or pursue alternative political directions, abandoning parliamentary responsibilities before the completion of a full term risked undermining voters’ trust and disrupting constituency representation.
“Have some sympathy for the people, especially the voters in Pandan. In my view, the rakyat expect their elected representative to remain present. At the very least, they should be able to knock on the MP’s door if they are dissatisfied or unable to obtain assistance.
“Perhaps they have certain reasons for doing so. But I hope that within Barisan Nasional, anyone harbouring similar intentions should first complete their service to the people.
“As long as Parliament has not been dissolved, during that five-year term of service, fulfil the responsibility first. After that, if they wish to contest again or join another party, that is entirely up to them,” she told reporters after launching the Asian International Arbitration Centre’s (AIAC) Pro Bono Commercial Mediation Initiative 2026 today.
The minister also suggested that the resignations appeared to run contrary to the broader spirit of Malaysia’s anti-party hopping legislation, which was introduced to curb political instability and protect electoral mandates following years of party defections and shifting parliamentary allegiances.
Rafizi and Nik Nazmi, both former senior PKR leaders, announced earlier that they would relinquish their parliamentary seats as part of plans to pursue a new political platform ahead of the next general election.
The resignations come despite the current parliamentary term still having approximately 18 months remaining before automatic dissolution.
The move has triggered wider debate over whether elected representatives should be allowed to seek fresh mandates midway through a parliamentary cycle for strategic political repositioning, particularly when voters originally elected them under the Pakatan Harapan banner.
Azalina’s comments also reflect growing concern among political leaders over the potential impact such resignations could have on governance stability, constituency services and public confidence in democratic institutions at a time when the government is focused on managing economic uncertainty and ongoing reforms. - May 18, 2026
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