PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad say their move to Parti Bersama Malaysia is not political "party-hopping" as they have voluntarily given up their parliamentary seats.
The clarification follows concerns regarding Malaysia’s stringent anti-party hopping law.
The duo explained that a calculated, multi-stage timeline was engineered specifically to respect the electorate and bypass legal and financial penalties.
By vacating their respective Pandan and Setiawangsa seats effective Monday (May 18), before officially joining Bersama on Tuesday (May 19), the politicians argue they are completely untethered from the "party hopper" label.
"We are vacating our seats because we respect the mandate we won on the PKR and Pakatan Harapan tickets.
"This ensures our actions are not seen as jumping party," Rafizi told reporters after announcing his and Nik Nazmi’s political direction here on Sunday (May 17).
Rafizi also revealed that this specific sequence insulates them from legal suits and financial bonds previously imposed by PKR on defecting lawmakers.
"PKR’s financial bond applies if we leave the party and enter another while remaining Members of Parliament.
“Up until now, no MP has been willing to empty their seat; they all want to switch parties while retaining their positions.
“By returning the mandate to the people first, we are no longer bound by that constraint when we resign from PKR on Tuesday,” the former economy minister said.
While acknowledging the anti-hopping law was designed to bring political stability, Rafizi criticised its unintended consequences, arguing it has effectively "muzzled" healthy debate and differing opinions within Malaysian parties.
He hinted that many sitting MPs and state assemblymen across the political spectrum - including within Amanah, DAP and Bersatu - share their frustrations but are legally trapped.
"The most difficult task right now was to prepare this platform.
“Because of the limitations of the anti-hopping law, other lawmakers cannot do anything right now,” he said.
“Nik and I had to pioneer this path, make the sacrifice to vacate our seats, and build Bersama.
“I am confident that in the coming months, especially closer to the general election, more leaders will decide to join us,” he added.
When questioned on whether they feared mimicking the political trajectory of short-lived vehicles like Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin’s former party, Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM), Rafizi dismissed the comparison.
He emphasised that their trajectory is focused on long-term systemic change rather than immediate Cabinet positions.
Nik Nazmi echoed this sentiment, stressing the need to build a fair alternative for disillusioned voters ahead of the national polls.
"This is not a small decision, but we feel it is the only way to be fair to the voters who gave us a mandate."
He said Bersama, which will be making its debut on the national stage despite being founded a decade ago, intends to focus heavily on grooming the next generation of leaders.
"We are realistic about the hurdles," Rafizi said, adding that the party plans to field progressive candidates in their 30s to challenge any and all seats nationwide where there is a clear demand for political change.
"We consider ourselves old at 45 and 50. Our job now is to train the youth, and I am certain that within the next one or two election cycles, Bersama will hold a strategic place in national politics."
