The anti-hopping law is in place but there is nothing to stop lawmakers from circumventing the loopholes and getting away scot-free.
Hello, MPs are the ones responsible for enacting laws, even those affecting their conduct as legislators. So, they should know how to wriggle their way out of trouble with the law if and when necessary.
The anti-hopping law, which came into effect on Oct 5 last year, was happily welcomed by all as it not only ensures political stability in the country but also boosts voters’ confidence in the candidates they chose in elections.
Credit is due to ex-prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who played a crucial part in “making it happen”, by proposing and pushing for the law to be gazetted before the 15th general election (GE15) with the overwhelming support of 209 MPs. Yes, we owe this one to our ninth PM.
Experts believe the law will ensure that shifts in alliances involving a handful of MPs would not result in a change of government or the prime minister. Well, this was plugged alright.
However, the same is also true the other way around. It can also help boost the support of the sitting prime minister by MPs from the opposition.
This scenario was not thought of until the recent action taken by five rogue Bersatu MPs to switch support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
They found a way to fulfil their obligations to their constituents by declaring their support for Anwar and his Madani government. In return, they were given MP allocations, normally reserved only for government lawmakers.
They broke no law and did not resign from their party. They only pledged support for the PM and the government.
On Monday, Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (one of the five rogue Bersatu MPs) claimed that more Perikatan Nasional lawmakers will shift their support to Anwar.
Syed Abu Hussin was quoted by Sinar Harian as saying there are seven to eight more MPs from the opposition bloc who will declare support for the Pakatan Harapan chairperson soon.
I tend to believe that it is more likely for MPs from the opposition to switch allegiance than for those on the government side to cross over to PN.
So, it was rather surprising, if not shocking, to hear Bersatu supreme council member Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof claiming that 10 government MPs will switch their support to PN.
I doubt that will happen. It is unlikely for any Harapan or BN lawmaker to cross over or even switch support. There is nothing PN could offer the backbenchers to induce them to do so.
And what reason did Redzuan proffer for this switching of support - due to disappointment over the coalition government being “led by DAP”?
Seriously, I wish Redzuan would think of something new rather than coming up with the same “anti-DAP, anti-Chinese” tale. As usual, Bersatu people have nothing else to say except to play up racial sentiments.
Their storyline is the same. Why must the federal government be under the dictate of the Chinese DAP when the Malays/Bumiputeras are the majority? Harping on such racial tones is just sickening if you ask me.
I find Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s response to Redzuan’s foolish statement most fittingly appropriate, even if laced with sarcasm.
“Redzuan claims that maybe 10 government MPs will shift their support to PN. That is indeed a surprise. But that will only happen if the ‘flying car’ that was planned by Redzuan could actually fly.
“As long as the flying car is impossible to fly, then the first ‘batch’ of 10 people flying to PN is also impossible,” Puad said on Facebook, referring to an announcement Redzuan made while serving as entrepreneur development minister during Harapan’s administration in 2018.
Wow, I think Redzuan deserves to be poured over with cold water by the Umno veteran.
On record, I have stated many times that I have zero respect for turncoats and traitors, particularly those who participated in the Sheraton putsch of 2020.
And Redzuan was one of the Bersatu MPs who betrayed and brought down the democratically elected Harapan government.
Nothing to offer
With few prospects in his political career today, except to see PN in power, Redzuan, like many of his impatient and restless colleagues in Bersatu, will do anything to see to the collapse of the Madani government.
It’s obvious that Redzuan’s statement suggesting that 10 government MPs will switch their support to PN is a move to “test the water”, but one that will yield nothing positive for Redzuan and Bersatu.
If I were a government MP today, the last thing I would do is cross over to the opposition PN.
I would be the dumbest politician to do that when I am already enjoying the perks and allocations as a lawmaker with the unity government.
Seriously, there is nothing “attractive” at all in the PN, with one partner made up of known religious fanatics and the other, comprising corrupt turncoats and traitors.
However, between Bersatu and PAS, I have just a little more respect for the Islamic party as a whole, save for the extremists than for a party filled with many self-serving generals and very few soldiers, that is Bersatu. - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at sirsiah@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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