Stop pussyfooting around anti-hopping law: PH, govt told

KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has called on the parties that signed the historic bipartisan memorandum of understanding (MoU) earlier this year to quit delaying the legislation of the proposed anti-party hopping law.

The Pengerang MP said this is because the MoU signed in September is not merely to ensure constituency funding allocations are fair between government and opposition lawmakers, but to pave the way for major constitutional amendments.

During a talk that was streamed on the Agenda Awani programme last night, Azalina said this law should be pushed by Parliament as a whole, but she is the one pushing for the changes through a private members’ bill.

“This actually should not be my job. It should be the job of those involved in that MoU, which is the leadership of PH (Pakatan Harapan) and the mixed (Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional) government.

They must be sincere in wanting to bring about the change that was promised to the people.”

Last week, Azalina submitted two bills related to the proposed anti-party hopping law, which are the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Regulation of Party Hopping and Political Accountability Bill 2021.

This marked her second submission of an anti-party hopping bill after her first submission in September was not read in Parliament.

Azalina, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, said the Regulation of Party Hopping and Political Accountability Bill 2021 will allow MPs to be recalled by their constituents if they defect from their parties. Lawmakers will also face the same measures if they have lower than 50% attendance in Parliament sittings for six consecutive months, or commit a serious criminal offence.

She also took a swipe at PH for delays on legislating other proposed reforms during the 22 months that it was in power.

“On the citizenship laws involving children that were championed by PH, I was the chairman of the select committee for women, children and vulnerable groups, and I can say that they (PH) were also in the committee.

“By right in the 22 months, the laws should be resolved. And it’s the same even for the separation of powers involving attorney-general, which was also not done.”

She also said that the country faced the recent election in Melaka due to the delays in passing the new laws on party hopping.

“The MoU provides equal assistance (to opposition members) and that is not a problem, but the issue I want to raise is why was there a delay on party hopping (laws) until it led to the Melaka polls. Who is responsible for this?

Why should there be a delay in the changes that can be brought after signing the MoU. 

“If the federal government does not look into these (laws), other states can be affected by party hopping as it is currently allowed under the constitution.”

However, Azalina said the MoU also makes it possible for Parliament to gain a two-thirds majority for a constitutional amendment.

Meanwhile, political scientist Professor Wong Chin Huat, who was featured on the programme, said the prevention of party hopping should not only be confined to enactments but also other efforts such as the decentralisation of government, Dewan Rakyat reforms, and fair distribution of allocations.

“Why is this important? Our Parliament only convenes for not more than four months in a year. For the most part, if you are not a minister or a deputy, you don’t have to work at a national level, but as a leader of a service centre.

“Many state assemblies only convene for two weeks throughout the year and this leads to many representatives not having the opportunity to raise their expertise and provides them with the incentive to hop parties in order to raise themselves from the opposition to the government.” – The Vibes, November 23, 2021