Have law for party hopping first, recall elections can come later, says Gobind

 

(From left) Julau MP Larry Sng, former minister Redzuan Md Yusof, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and Bersih chairman Thomas Fann at the anti-hopping law conference today.

KUALA LUMPUR: The drafting of the anti-hopping laws must be split into two stages by first dealing with “clear-cut” party hopping activity to save time, DAP deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo said today.

“Do it in two stages. First (enact the law) on ‘clear-cut’ party hopping, then later (look at) the recall election procedures,” the Puchong MP said at an anti-hopping law conference held at Wisma Badan Peguam Malaysia today.

He said that laws covering MPs who leave their party for another party or who become independent, after winning in the elections, must first be put in place in the interest of time, as outlining recall election procedures may cause delays.

“The best way is to include it all in the anti-hopping bill so that only one constitutional amendment is needed.

“However, the question is whether we can do it in time,” he said, adding that recall election procedures cover a huge area.

He said party hopping by individuals and where parties join or leave coalitions should be dealt with first ahead of the next general election (GE15).

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said and former minister Redzuan Md Yusof, who also took part in the conference, said legal provisions to deal with elected representatives sacked by their political parties can also come later.

In March, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told the Dewan Negara that a provision for recall elections will be included in the new anti-hopping bill.

He was also reported to have said that any MP who decides to switch allegiance after being elected should be allowed to contest on behalf of their new party after losing their seat under the new law. - FMT