Don’t blame past administration for anti-hopping law loopholes, govt told

 

Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said the opposition ought to propose amendments to address weaknesses in a law rather than just describe it as flawed. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA: The government should take responsibility to address gaps in the anti-party hopping law rather than lay blame on the previous administration for them, public policy consultant Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said.

He said when loopholes are identified, it is imperative that the government and opposition work together to plug them.

“Addressing loopholes is a shared responsibility among all legislative body members. It requires collaboration, open discussions, and a commitment to constructive debate to ensure the law effectively and fairly serves its intended purpose,” he told FMT.

Wan Agyl said the opposition should take on the responsibility of prosing amendments to the law to allow for a substantive debate on it, rather than simply describing it as flawed.

On Jan 25, law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said denied the existence of loopholes in the anti-party hopping law.

Azalina said the government does not have the responsibility to close any loopholes. Instead, it only has to ensure the law guarantees that a seat belongs to the party that won it, and not the MP personally.

After four Bersatu MPs pledged support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in November, Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said the anti-party hopping law was flawed and called for it to be reviewed.

Subsequently, two more Bersatu MPs backed Anwar, the most recent being Tanjong Karang MP Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi, who said he was doing it for the sake of his constituency.

Responding to Muhyiddin’s statement, former law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told PN not to blame anyone, saying that all parties knew and accepted the supposed flaws in the bill when it was passed.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer Bastian Pius Vendargon called for the government to amend the law to plug its loopholes.

He said that from its very inception, politicians and lawyers knew there were loopholes because some parties refused to adopt provisions that would have made the law airtight.

“Amending the law requires political will and support, but it looks like politicians are happy with these loopholes, which are being exploited.

“Otherwise, this unity government would be in a position to amend the law to plug the gaps,” he said. - FMT