KOTA KINABALU: On Oct 5 last year, the anti-party hopping law came into force.
Just over a year later, a party leader is calling for a review of the law as several MPs changed their political support without leaving their party.
Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal (pic) believes there are loopholes in the law which now needs a review.
“We need to refine the law,” the Parti Warisan president said.
He said there was no issue with Opposition lawmakers giving bipartisan support on policies made by the government.
However, an open declaration of political support to another on grounds that it would be for the benefit of their respective constituencies and people’s well-being must not be condoned, he said after a meeting with Warisan Youth wing leaders yesterday.
“Every parliamentary area (regardless of political leanings) should be given an allocation and not be left behind.
“Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim approved allocations for Kelantan although it is an Opposition state.
“We want the anti-party hopping law to be part and parcel of the Constitution but now, there are ‘defections’ here and there.
“This should not be allowed or encouraged,” said the former Sabah chief minister.
“We don’t want the people’s mandate to be betrayed.
“Such a culture (of declaring open support without actual party hopping) must not be allowed,” he said when commenting on four Perikatan Nasional MPs who declared support for Anwar.
