Anti-hopping law not for parties

PUTRAJAYA: The proposed anti-party hopping law will not prevent another “Sheraton Move” as it will not cover defections by parties within a coalition, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

It will also not cover MPs who are involuntarily expelled from parties.

The de facto law minister said the matter was discussed thoroughly by the bipartisan parliamentary special select committee (PSSC), which decided that the law should only cover individual party hopping.

“Coalition hopping was a major issue in our discussions, and we have deliberated it since January.

“We decided to follow international practice. In other countries that have anti-hopping laws, it is only to prevent individuals from switching parties. Also, many coalition governments are only decided after an election.

“With the anti-party hopping law, we try to cover as many things as possible. We have discussed all kinds of scenarios.

“But the consensus is that we won’t be able to cover all aspects. If we try to stifle too much, it would not be democratic.

“The essence of the law is that we prevent Members of Parliament (MPs) from simply switching parties,” said Wan Junaidi at a press conference here.

During the Sheraton Move in 2020, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia broke away from the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which won in GE14, to form the new Perikatan Nasional government.

Under such a scenario, the Bersatu MPs would not lose their seats but the PKR 11 who quit their party would have to stand for re-election.

Wan Junaidi said the proposed anti-party hopping law, which is set to be tabled in parliamentary in July, will also cover those elected as independent but chose to join a political party.

He added that the bipartisan PSSC has given their endorsement to the provisions of the bill.