Review Article 43 to strengthen anti-hopping law: Azalina

KUALA LUMPUR – There is a critical need for the Parliamentary Select Committee to review Article 43 through the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022, which prohibits MPs from changing parties.

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang-BN) said the matter is of the utmost importance as it empowers every parliamentarian to represent their respective constituents.

“Article 43 gives confidence to an individual who has received the majority to be the leader (prime minister).

“If no amendments are made to Article 43, then I foresee what we debate today will continue to challenge every parliamentarian who has sworn to represent the future of their respective constituencies.

“It will not be binding to any party after the parliamentarian has been sworn in,” she said during the debate for the anti-hopping law in Parliament earlier today as quoted by The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister publication, Getaran.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (Pontian-BN) then interrupted Azalina to ask whether it was permissible for an MP to switch parties but remain within the same coalition.

Azalina said such actions are allowed as they only constitute movement within the same coalition.

However, such actions should be done within the confines of Article 10 of the federal constitution, which relates to the right to freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association, said Azalina.

At the same, she also expressed concern that the amendment will not be adopted at the state level.

“If Article 48 is not amended, there is a possibility that those who leave (their parties) will be made victims of circumstance.

“This also goes for Article 10 in any situation, which possibly makes any agreement difficult to implement.

“That is why both the government and the opposition are finding a middle ground to empower politicians to either contest as independents or under a coalition to give confidence to the people, because we cannot escape the fact shown in the Melaka and Johor elections that people did not come out to vote as they are fed up (with party hopping),” she said. – The Vibes, July 27, 2022