KUALA LUMPUR, 27 Mac 2018 - Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said ketika taklimat media mengenai Rang Undang-Undang AntiBerita Tidak Benar di Bangunan Parlimen di sini hari ini.?Gambar FAUZI BAHARUDIN Pemberita Team Parlimen
KUALA LUMPUR: A "recall remedy" should be introduced in the Anti Party-Hopping Bill, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
She said that a recall remedy - also known as a recall vote - would be able to ensure that leaders have the support of their constituents should they defect from their party after being elected.
"A recall remedy is seen in several countries as a form of insurance. Though an election might be over, the people can decide if their elected representatives stay or leave," she said.
"According to Section 18 of the Societies Act, a politician sacked by the party cannot challenge that decision (of being removed from the party)," added Azalina.
She said this during her speech on the Anti Party-Hopping Bill, which was tabled for its Second Reading in Parliament on Wednesday (July 27).
"So, who gets to decide or not whether he or she gets to stay? The people," added Azalina.
Azalina then proposed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob or de facto law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar consider including the "recall remedy" in the Anti Party-Hopping Bill in the future.
"I request to the minister (Wan Junaidi) involved in discussions and the head of the House (Ismail Sabri) to study whether a 'recall remedy' can be included as part of the next move or second phase in the amendments (of the Bill)," said Azalina.
Last September, Azalina submitted a notice of motion to Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to table a Private Members' Bill to push for a Recall Bill to be enacted.
Azalina had said the Private MembersBill on recall elections was rejected as it will incur more costs for Putrajaya.
Meanwhile, Azalina praised Ismail Sabri for being magnanimous in allowing the Bill to be debated in Parliament.
She added that in many previous engagement sessions on the Bill, MPs were concerned about what would happen to their position if they were sacked from the party.
"My answer is that this Constitutional amendment is for the people, and by the people themselves," said Azalina.
Azalina also said the federal government cannot compel state governments to implement the Anti Party-Hopping Bill if it's passed by Parliament.
"Every state government is led by Sultans (or Yang-di Pertua), and they have their respective prerogative to reject this Constitution amendment. This is their right," said Azalina.
Azalina then advised states under Pakatan Harapan - Selangor and Penang - to implement this Bill after it's passed in Parliament.
"Otherwise, the state will have more political frogs than at the Federal level. This is unfair," added the Pengerang MP.
Last month, Wan Junaidi said the Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 on preventing party hopping will be tabled when the Dewan Rakyat begins its meeting on July 18.
The Bill was initially slated to be tabled in March this year, but it was deferred to a special one-day sitting on April 11.
However, on April 11, there was a hiccup on the tabling of the bill following resistance from all sides of the political divide, as MPs were concerned on the definition of party-hopping and potential abuse of the law.
The Bill was later referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) for further scrutiny from MPs.
