Fast-track anti-hopping law to get rid of errant politicians

 

From Moaz Nair

The present political uncertainties and instability in the country are somewhat due to the absence of any anti-hopping law that could deter elected members of parliament or state assemblymen from leaving or switching parties.

Till today, there is no binding law in the country that makes it illegal for legislators, after being appointed to contest under a political party, to jump or quit the party having won a seat in an election.

Voters have become tired of political instability brought about by elected representatives changing allegiance regularly.

If all goes well, with an anti-hopping law in force, it will put a stop to party hopping and bring some political stability to the country. And that is why this law must be fast-tracked.

Apparently, the absence of an anti-hopping law has allowed elected representatives to become party hoppers of convenience. This is further perpetuated when they justify their depraved conduct by claiming that legislators are representing the people and not the party that fielded them as candidates.

A number of elected representatives left the party they were affiliated with after winning the last general election (GE14). Some of these politicians chose to become friendly representatives for other political entities, a few became independents and some others decided to join or form new political parties despite winning in the election under a different flag.

Some of these representatives also left their respective parties by taking with them some “unbearable baggage”, hoping for some “rewards and sympathy” from their newfound alliance.

It’s only a short-term help for some of them, though. Their political career is almost over and some would most likely not contest in any election in the future. No right-minded voter would vote for them anymore.

Dignity to quit

In a democracy, politicians owe so much to those who have voted for them. Politicians who fail to lend their ears to the voice of the people and even the party they belong to could be unforgivably cast off.

Being a politician is not one’s birthright. The moment they incur the wrath of the electorate or party, it’s time for them to look for a quick trail out or they would be booted out from their seats in any future political contest.

It’s just amusing that there are some party hoppers who have faint hopes that the people would still vote for them if they were to contest in the next general election.

Deluding voters and letting down the hope of the party by hopping to another party, for whatever reason, cannot be accepted by voters. These politicians have even been perceived as being feckless.

They should, by right, have the dignity to quit and go back to the people to get a fresh mandate to crown themselves back as the rightful choice of the voters.

Elected representatives are duty-bound to be accountable to the electorate and the political party they represent. If they cannot serve the electorate under the party they had won, they should have the guts to resign honourably.

Those who cheat voters by “changing horses midstream” should have the honour to resign and contest again under a different political ensign to see if they are still sought after by the electorate. Little do they realise that as taxpayers, the voters have all the right to query them about their misdemeanour.

With an anti-hopping law passed by parliament, the next general election, which is just around the corner, should see that elected representatives do not whimsically hop parties.

If they still insist on doing so, the option left for them would be to quit and contest again, if they wish, whether as an independent candidate or under the banner of another political party.

Prove to the electorate that they are still relevant in politics. Their chances of winning a seat would be very slim, though. No voter would condone politicians who have not been responsible to the party or the electorate.

They have embittered the party, the electorate and the taxpayers. They don’t deserve a second chance.

These are elected representatives who had deliberately ridden on the voters but only to serve their own interests. They should immediately resign and leave politics, as they have behaved irresponsibly to the people who had expected so much more from them.

Their despicable conduct would irrefutably incur the anger of the voters. No matter what excuses they come up with, and even if backed by some other politicians, they may not be able to convince the voters.

They themselves are aware of this dilemma and history has shown that those representatives who are derelict in their duties and jump or leave the party while serving could never be re-elected by the people even if they were to contest under a different political streamer.

A ‘political crime’

Many elected representatives have earned the ire of the people for party hopping, yet the existing law seems to be on their side and they cannot even be reprimanded by the court of law. It is the electorate who are taken for a ride by these unscrupulous politicians.

Undependable politicians should be dealt with by voting them out in elections as they have committed a “political crime” in the eyes of the voters. They are the pusillanimous type and do not deserve to be addressed by their honorific title “Yang Berhormat.”

In all probability, all legislators – state and parliamentary – who left the party they had represented in past general elections would end up facing the rage of the voters if they were to recontest in their respective seats.

Failing to recontest would be a halt in their political tracks and they would be branded as political opportunists or cowards. That is why, if they do contest but fail in their attempt to win the seat, they should quit politics honourably.

Elected representatives must be responsible to the party and they should not leave the party when political matters within the party appear to be not in their favour.

Come what may, their future in politics is almost a foregone conclusion. The voters would decide their fate come the next general election.

With an anti-hopping law enforced, those who betray the party that appointed them to contest and win in the election would certainly be left with an empty plate on their table. This is the only way to get rid of errant politicians. - FMT

Moaz Nair is an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.