Enact anti-hopping laws at next Dewan Rakyat meeting, Bar urges govt

 

Party-hopping, whether in the state assembly or Dewan Rakyat, should be outlawed, says Bar president Salim Bashir.

PETALING JAYA: Anti-hopping laws, to prevent state assembly members and MPs from jumping parties, should be enacted at the next meeting of the Dewan Rakyat, the federal government was urged today.

Bar Council president Salim Bashir said the Bar believed that party-hopping was unethical and should be avoided to uphold Malaysia’s democracy. Anti-hopping laws would be crucial to ensure political stability while preventing the electoral decision from being undermined.

He said that although the Federal Constitution provided for freedom of association, Parliament was also empowered to impose restrictions as it deems necessary or expedient.

Salim said politicians who change parties after being elected to the state assembly or Dewan Rakyat would be betraying the people’s trust.

Party-hopping should be outlawed to uphold the rule of law and the constitution’s integrity, he said.

The de facto law minister, Takiyuddin Hassan, has previously stated that an anti-hopping law would go against constitutional protection of freedom of association. - FMT