Political parties should amend their constitutions, says Rafizi

KUALA LUMPUR: No discussions have been held at the Cabinet level on reviewing the anti-party hopping law, says Rafizi Ramli.

The Economy Minister said the onus should be on political parties themselves, especially those which had not amended their constitutions.

“If we open up for an amendment or revision of the anti-party hopping law now, you don’t know how long it would take.

“It wasn’t easy to get a consensus in the first place,” he told reporters at the Asia School of Business here yesterday, after observing the classroom sessions of the Executive Digital Leadership Programme.

The PKR deputy president said the country’s focus should be on development plans and navigating the economy, given the current circumstances.

Political polemics should be lessened, he added.

Rafizi said opening up the anti-hopping law for amendments or revisions would see discussions drag on for months, when it could be done independently by political parties.

He was responding to a question on whether the anti-party hopping law should be reviewed.

Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called for a review of the legislation in light of four of its MPs having broken the party line to declare their support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the unity government.

Rafizi, noting that 2023 was a challenging year, said there is an opportunity to strengthen fundamentals in 2024.

“As far as I am concerned, at least for PKR, we have always wanted to be given an opportunity for reforms and we have about five years to do that,” he added.