Shafie (seated, centre) says it is high time to fine-tune Malaysia’s anti-party hopping law.
KOTA KINABALU: Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal believes it is high time for a review of the anti-party hopping law in the wake of several Perikatan Nasional MPs changing their political support but without leaving their party.
The Parti Warisan president said these actions could be considered “defections” although the representatives had not switched parties.
This showed gaps in the law that needed to be rectified, he said after meeting Warisan Youth leaders here on Wednesday (Nov 8).
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“There are some loopholes in the provision of the law that require us to review it. We need to refine the law,” he added.
The Semporna MP said there was no issue with Opposition lawmakers giving bipartisan support on policies made by the government.
Mohd Shafie said, however, the open declaration of political support for another on the grounds that it would be for the benefit of their respective constituencies and people’s well-being must not be condoned.
“Every parliamentary area (regardless of political leanings) should be given an allocation and not be left lagging.
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“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved allocations for Kelantan despite it being an Opposition state.
“We want the anti-party hopping law to be part and parcel of the Constitution and this country, but till now, there are still ‘defections’ here and there.
“Honestly, for me personally, this should not be allowed or encouraged – it’s enough,” added the former Sabah chief minister.
Four Perikatan MPs, all from the Bersatu component party, have voiced support for the unity government under Anwar, all based on their constituents’ well-being.
It started on Oct 12 with Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid and then Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman on Oct 30, followed by Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim on Tuesday (Nov 7).
On Wednesday, Jeli MP Zahari Kechik followed suit.
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The MPs maintained that they were still Bersatu members and had no intention of leaving the party.
Bersatu's disciplinary board has since suspended Iskandar Dzulkarnain for four years and Suhaili for six years, while the fate of the other two has yet to be addressed.
Mohd Shafie said a review and update of the anti-hop law must be done so that voters who put these leaders in office would not be undermined.
“There must be improvements (to the law). We don’t want the people’s mandate to be betrayed.
“Such a culture (declaring open support without party hopping) must not be allowed.
“If you look back, the party that has suffered the most from hopping is Warisan.
"If not, I would still be chief minister,” he said, referring to the defections of assemblymen in 2020 that led to a snap election in September that year.
Warisan and its then Pakatan Harapan allies lost to the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah loose coalition.
