[UPDATED] Senators should be subject to anti-hopping law: Nazri Aziz

KUALA LUMPUR – The anti-hopping legislation should also apply to senators, considering the many are political appointees with allegiance to specific parties, said Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN).

He also called for a provision that bars those who quit their parties from contesting in by-elections, saying these defectors should be allowed to contest to prove public support.

“If they think the party has gone astray and have stopped believing in their ideals, let them show their strength and contest, to prove whether they won with the party’s backing or actual support from the people.”

When debating the constitutional amendments during today’s special sitting, he said the bill excluding senators from being subjected to the anti-hopping law suggested that Dewan Negara is ranked lower than Dewan Rakyat and state assemblies.  

“Even if they are not elected directly, senators appointed by state assemblies are being picked by those elected to their positions, so they are indirectly appointed by the people.

“There are also members of the senate who are strong party figures, and that is why I said these senators must also be associated with the issue of party-hopping.”

Khalid Samad (Shah Alam-PH) interjected Nazri, saying that in the case of the Sheraton Move and party-hopping that led to the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government could have been avoided if Umno stuck to its principles and did not agree with the “coup”.

“In 2020, when the hoppers came along and had Umno keep its doors closed, incidents which later unfolded could have been avoided, so I agree with Padang Rengas that political ‘frogs’ have no place anywhere.”

Nazri responded saying it was not Umno’s idea that led to the Sheraton Move, and that his party was just going along with a proposal it got.

“At that time, the prime minister Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin) had suggested the move, so we went along with it. It is not the same.” – The Vibes, April 11, 2022