PETALING JAYA: Former Umno leaders should relinquish their elected positions before joining any Pakatan Harapan component parties, says DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai (pic).
“DAP has always been firm on our stand and opposes the ‘frog-leaping’ culture as it is a betrayal to people and public trust, especially one elected as a people’s representative under a certain party's banner.
“We always maintain that if the party that you opted to cross to differs vastly from your political principles and beliefs, you must relinquish the position held previously,” said Tan, referring to the parliamentary and state assembly seats held by the defecting Umno leaders.
“There are Pakatan coalition members who felt that leaders from other political parties are allowed to cross over (to Pakatan) if they have a clean political background.
“This means they must not be corrupted and have no criminal records,” he said after the launch of Foton 3S centre at, Jalan Pemberita U1/49 Temasya Industrial Park, Glenmarie, Shah Alam on Saturday (Dec 15).
Tan was commenting on the exodus of the Umno MPs and assemblymen from the party.
Six Umno MPs announced their resignation on Friday (Dec 15), while five MPs, two senators and nine assemblymen from Sabah Umno left the party on Wednesday (Dec 12).
Tan added that DAP has always been advocating an anti-party-hopping law.
“But for it to be enacted, there must be a consensus of all component parties of Pakatan,” he said
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