DAP to honour agreement to hold GE after July if constitutional amendments are passed

GEORGE TOWN: Two critical amendments in the Federal Constitution need to be set in place before the General Election, said DAP vice chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Chow, who was also Penang DAP chairman, said it was to honour a memorandum of agreement between the government and several opposition parties that a GE should only be held after July after the amendments were set to ensure political stability.

"We have a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and part of the opposition, that we are still holding on to a stipulated timeline, which is after July.

"This date is chosen because it involves two important matters for amendments in the Federal Constitution.

"First is the anti-hopping law which is the main cause of political instability in the country.

"The amendment needs to be done in the next parliament sitting to ensure a government of reps elected and given mandate by voters will not be toppled due to its members switching parties.

"The amendment can only be done in March or April, hence the timeline stipulated in the MoU," Chow told reporters on Thursday (Feb 4).

Chow said the second amendment to be me ade was to limit the tenure of Prime Minister to 10 years, although less important it was nevertheless necessary.

"These two root problems to be tackled that are the cause of political instability in the country.

"If such amendments are not made, what has happened in the past will reoccur after this GE if there is no coalition strong enough," he said.

Earlier, Chow handed out about 500 food packets and oranges to residents of Island Glades for Chinese New Year.