Loke: Muhyiddin cited Umno sacking when objecting anti-hopping clause

Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin was instrumental in striking down an anti-hopping clause that would have disqualified MPs removed from their parties, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke revealed today.

Loke said Muhyiddin objected to the clause while citing his own sacking from Umno.

“He cited how he was sacked from Umno for going against the party and 1MDB.

“In this case, he said if he was sacked from the party and had to vacate his seat, it would not have been fair to him,” Loke (above, right) told reporters in Petaling Jaya, Selangor today.

ADS

He said Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin relayed this message from Muhyiddin during deliberations when drafting the anti-hopping law in 2022.

Muhyiddin was sacked from Umno in 2016 after rebelling against then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak over the 1MDB scandal.

Bersatu has called for the anti-hopping law to be amended after four of its MPs went rogue and supported Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Clockwise from top left: Jeli MP Zahari Kechik, Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan)

However, as the four did not leave Bersatu, they did not trigger the anti-hopping law and were not required to vacate their seats.

The anti-hopping law only applies to MPs who quit their parties, or join another party - with explicit protections for lawmakers who are sacked from their party.

After Bersatu called for amendments, however, it came to light that the original draft law would have included a clause to punish MPs who go against their party or are sacked from their party.

The clause was removed due to objections from Bersatu.

Others amended party constitution

Loke said that DAP did not fight against this to ensure that an anti-hopping law in some form would still be enacted.

Instead, DAP closed the loophole by amending its party constitution whereby an MP who goes against the party is considered to have "resigned" - thereby triggering the anti-hopping law.

"So, if those four (Bersatu MPs) were from DAP, they would have lost their seats, and there would be by-elections. It is as simple as that," he added.

He said Bersatu can follow DAP's example to prevent further defections.

Umno and Amanah have also made similar amendments to their party constitutions.

However, critics said that such a clause of forcing a "resignation" would need to be tested in court to see if it is legally viable. - Mkini