Give equal funding to end anti-hopping law woes, says analyst

 

Opposition MPs Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Azizi Abu Naim, Zahari Kechik and Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently.

PETALING JAYA: All MPs should be given the same allocation of development funds to deter them from exploiting a loophole in the anti-hopping law to switch loyalties, a political scientist said.

Wong Chin Huat of Sunway University said Article 49A of the Federal Constitution -the provision enacted to curb rampant political defections – only favours the government, not the opposition.

However, the loophole cannot be plugged by tightening the law, he said.

Three weeks ago, Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin called for a review of the anti-hopping law after four MPs from his party declared support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government.

Despite their shift in allegiance, Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli) insisted they would not resign from Bersatu, thus avoiding a by-election in their constituencies.

They have since been joined by Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal, who declared support for Anwar on Tuesday.

Bersatu had opposed a clause in the original draft of the anti-hopping bill which would have declared a seat vacant if an MP went against his own party’s stance. The provision was eventually removed from the bill tabled and passed by Parliament.

Wong said the problem could be addressed by amendments which will make voters vote for a party of their choice rather than individual candidates. This would allow a party to replace MPs without triggering a by-election.

Constitutional lawyer Bastian Pius Vendargon said the reality on the ground is that voters tend to vote along party lines.

“If I’m a voter, I’m supporting the policies that the party says it stands for.

“If the MP that I put into office because of that reason then runs to another party or supports another party, then he is supporting policies which I would never have wanted to support. I would never have voted for him,” he said.

Vendargon said these MPs should vacate the seats to make way for a by-election.

He said that while the current anti-hopping law had succeeded in addressing political instability ahead of the 15th general election, its benefits were felt only in the short term.

Vendargon said the provision should be reviewed to ensure that they are equally effective over the longer term.

Lawyer Fahri Azzat said the real solution lies in a shift to a more “values-driven” political culture.

“It has to happen politically. It cannot happen within the law because what you’re asking the law to do is to police ethics,” he said.

Fahri said forcing MPs to resign for deviating from party lines would transform party leaders into “dictators” and reduce the likelihood of meaningful debate in the Dewan Rakyat. - FMT