Restricting the freedom of thought and action of elected representatives to prevent party-hopping could ultimately strengthen the grip of elite groups within political parties rather than democracy itself, a former Bersatu lawmaker said today.
In a Facebook statement, independent Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan said that elected representatives must retain the freedom to act according to their own convictions and judgment, even when parties face defections or expulsions.
“If the freedom of thought and action of elected representatives is restricted in the name of ‘anti-party-hopping’, then we are not actually strengthening democracy. Instead, we are strengthening the dominance of elite interest groups within parties.
“I understand the anger among members of any party when there are actions involving defections or expulsions, including in cases involving Bersatu MPs and all previous party-hopping cases before that.
“But party emotions cannot be used as a reason to deny an elected representative the freedom to act according to their own convictions and judgment.
“Let parties act according to their own procedures, without erasing or obstructing our aspiration to see a generation of elected representatives emerge in this country who truly place the people above all other interests, including party interests,” he said.
Wan Saiful was commenting on the resignations of Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as the Pandan MP and Setiawangsa MP, respectively.
Yesterday, the former ministers announced that they will take over Parti Bersama Malaysia (Bersama) at an event in Petaling Jaya attended by around 800 supporters.
Wan Saiful, meanwhile, is a former Bersatu supreme council member who was sacked last October, after being found guilty of violating the party’s constitution and its code of ethics and conduct.
He revealed that the action taken against him was based on several complaints, including allegations that he had attempted to establish a new Perikatan Nasional executive council.
Wan Saiful, however, retains his parliamentary seat under Malaysia’s anti-hopping law (Article 49A of the Federal Constitution), which stipulates that MPs forfeit their seats if they voluntarily resign or join another party.
However, an explicit exemption applies to those expelled or dismissed by their political party.
‘Parliament lost capable MPs’
In his statement, Wan Saiful also expressed regret over Rafizi and Nik Nazmi’s resignation.
“They chose to stand by their principles, even though the decision was not an easy one.
“However, I also regret that the Dewan Rakyat is losing two capable MPs. Their absence will undoubtedly affect the quality of debate as well as the process of checks and balances in Parliament.
“This brings us to a bigger question: what is the true purpose of the anti-party-hopping law? Is it meant to safeguard the country’s stability, or is it a tool to preserve the power of elite groups holding senior positions within parties?” he asked.
Wan Saiful said that during discussions on drafting the anti-party-hopping law between 2021 and 2022, chaired by former minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, he repeatedly raised the question of whether voters should choose parties alone, or capable individuals entrusted to carry their voices in Parliament.
He said he had also stressed that the political culture that turns elected representatives into mere party followers must end.
“In my view, a healthy democracy requires elected representatives with independent intellectualism balanced with party discipline, not those who blindly follow party instructions, which in the end would make a party president excessively powerful, almost like a supreme deity.
“Today, the Dewan Rakyat is losing two MPs not because they abandoned the people’s struggle, but because they have grown weary of the failures of Anwar Ibrahim,” Wan Saiful said, referring to the prime minister and PKR president. - Mkini
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