Party-Hopping Is Your Constitutional Right

 

If an anti-party-hopping law is allowed, then Parliament must also pass a law forbidding Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, tree-worshippers, stone-worshippers, pagans, free-thinkers, etc., from hopping over to Islam.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

This is what the Federal Constitution of Malaysia says:

Article number: 4 (1) — This Constitution is the supreme law of the Federation and any law passed after Merdeka Day which is inconsistent with this Constitution shall, to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

Article number: 10 (1) Subject to Clauses (2), (3) and (4) —

• (a) every citizen has the right to freedom of speech and expression;
• (b) all citizens have the right to assemble peaceably and without arms;
• (c) all citizens have the right to form associations.

Article 4 forbids Parliament from passing any law that violates the Constitution.

Article 10, however, is subject to your act not being a threat to the peace, stability, and security of the nation — or else, the police can forbid you from speaking, writing, assembling, etc., or arrest you if you do.

In fact, you can get arrested not only for speaking, writing, etc., but even for merely thinking. For example, if you think Shia Islam is correct and Sunni Islam is not, these thoughts can get you arrested.

Hence, while Malaysia claims to be a democratic country that holds democratic elections every five years, what is in your head and heart can get you arrested, especially if what you think in your head and feel in your heart leaks out from your mouth.

In short, any anti-party-hopping law is unlawful. It is your God-given right to associate with any movement, association, or political party, so long as it is not a terrorist organisation that aims to harm people or disrupt the peace, stability, and security of the nation.

Hence if an anti-party-hopping law is passed by Parliament, we need to challenge this law in court and get it declared illegal.

If an anti-party-hopping law is allowed, then Parliament must also pass a law forbidding Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, tree-worshippers, stone-worshippers, pagans, free-thinkers, etc., from hopping over to Islam.

After all, religion and politics are both the same, because they are both about beliefs. The only slight difference is: for one you pray to God and for the other politicians play God.