Azalina urges Malaccans to vote for parties that back anti-hopping measures

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said is stumping for her proposed “hybrid” anti-hopping and recall election bill, saying it should be a key consideration for voters in Malacca.

Her bill calls for voters to petition the Election Commission to sack elected representatives that defect from their parties to make way for a by-election.

The bill, however, would allow voters the option to reject the petition if a majority is in favour of their representative changing allegiances and want them retained.

Taking to Twitter, Azalina (above) said this bill can be implemented at a state level by amending the Malacca state constitution with two-thirds support.

“Malaccan voters should support parties that are committed to tabling this bill.

“Parties can make a promise via a manifesto to table this bill and reject ‘frogs’,” she said, adding that the candidates can also sign an anti-hopping pledge.

Party hopping has been a major problem in Malaysian politics since 2018.

The Malacca snap election itself was the result of four assemblypersons defecting from the BN-led state government.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim had revealed that the defectors led by former chief minister Idris Haron had negotiated with Pakatan Harapan before making a decision to be turncoats.

Previously, in 2020, defections also led to the collapse of the Harapan-led state government.

PKR and Amanah are now courting Idris and former Umno representative Nor Azman Hassan to contest under Harapan - despite objections from DAP. - Mkini