PETALING JAYA: In the wake of four Bersatu MPs switching camps despite the anti-hopping law being in place, three civil society groups have stepped up calls for the government to give equal constituency development funds (CDFs) to all MPs.
The Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0), Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) and Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) said unequal CDF allocation was the main factor behind MPs switching allegiances and that it was crucial to put an end to this.
Ideas CEO Tricia Yeoh (pic) urged Putrajaya to codify CDF allocations as this would level the playing field between government and Opposition MPs.
She said Malaysia needs legislation that codifies a transparent, equitable and accountable distribution of CDF to all MPs, regardless of political affiliation.
“Ideas has been working closely with Bersih to engage and obtain buy-in from political parties at the state level on an improved CDF allocation.
“Some of our proposals include codifying a formula that would ensure equitable distribution as well as reporting and disclosure requirements on all elected representatives to ensure transparency and accountability in the usage of the funds,” said Yeoh.
She said an immediate possibility is to start signing a memorandum of understanding which ensures equal allocations.
In September 2021, then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob agreed to give equal allocation to all MPs under a supply and confidence agreement between the government and the Opposition at the time.
Bersih supports such a proposal, saying that CDF allocations should be institutionalised by law in order to stabilise politics in Malaysia.
“In the long term, CDF should run on its own or via an elected local government.
“Constituency development is not supposed to be an MP’s job, who should focus on national issues and debate bills,” it said.
Bersih also said Putrajaya should consider implementing recall elections for seats where MPs switch allegiance without leaving their parties.
“This mechanism is used in Taiwan and the United States.
“Unlike our current anti-hopping laws, which give either the Parliament Speaker or state assembly the power to determine seat vacancy, recall election empowers a constituency’s voters to initiate a petition to recall or keep their representatives,” said Bersih.
C4 also stressed the importance of equal allocations through a Political Financing Act.
“This mandates the allocation of funds to all constituencies, making it redundant to shift one’s loyalty,” said C4
“It also removes money as being a primary motivating factor on how politicians decide their allegiances.”
C4 also said the four Bersatu MPs who declared their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently shows that the anti-party hopping law’s provisions under Section 49A of the Constitution is ineffective.
“The law only compels the vacating of a seat by an MP in case of their resignation from the party.
“Although the four MPs will face disciplinary action from the party, it would still allow them to keep their seats,” said C4.
The four – Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang) and Zahari Kechik (Jeli) – had over the past two weeks announced that they would support the government in order to obtain CDFs for their constituencies.
Bersatu leaders claimed that there were agents who were enticing MPs to switch allegiances.
