'Include those passively going against party in anti-hopping definition'
PARLIAMENT | Lim Guan Eng (Harapan-Bagan) today suggested that the definition of party-hopping should also include those who passively go against their party.
In his debate over the Anti-Hopping Bill, he said lawmakers who go through legal loopholes, such as going against their own parties, should also be dropped as representatives...
PARLIAMENT | Lim Guan Eng (Harapan-Bagan) today suggested that the definition of party-hopping should also include those who passively go against their party.
In his debate over the Anti-Hopping Bill, he said lawmakers who go through legal loopholes, such as going against their own parties, should also be dropped as representatives.
“We know that those, including in the Dewan Rakyat, will continue to look for ways to hop (between) parties after the constitutional amendment is passed.
“The focus of this amendment is for representatives that switch between parties on their own initiative, and not those who have been fired.
“But what will happen when an individual doesn’t hop parties but passively leaves their party by voting against it in the Dewan Rakyat or contesting their party’s own candidate in elections?” Lim (above) asked.
The DAP chairperson assured the Dewan Rakyat today that Pakatan Harapan-led states will amend their respective constitutions to align with the Federal Constitution.
Lim called on other coalitions to do the same.
Quitting party
Under the new bill, which is expected to be voted on later today, Article 49(a) and Section 7A of the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution will be amended so that MPs will lose their seats if they quit a party or cease being a member.
However, an MP who was sacked from the party will not be disqualified.
Similarly, MPs will still keep their seats if their party is dissolved or merges with another party, or if they resign from the party in order to be a House speaker.
As for MPs elected as independents, those who either join a political party or become a member of a coalition, will lose their seats, according to the bill and its explanatory statement.
The bill's explanatory statement also states that MPs will not lose their seats if their entire party exits a coalition to join or form another coalition.
When MPs lose their seats due to party hopping, an election must take place within 60 days.
The bill needs two-thirds majority support to be approved in the Dewan Rakyat.
