The Malaysian Insight

THE government must be more transparent and give a deadline on when it will enact anti-party hopping laws, Umno delegates said today.

“The government must explain the reasons for the delay or at the very least give a commitment that it will enact the anti-party hopping law before the next elections. It must tell us how long it will be delayed,” said former deputy minister Razali Ibrahim.

 While the delay is regrettable, Razali said it is not the most crucial issue at the moment.

“The most important thing is that the law must be passed, gazetted and be in force before the next election because none of us want to see a situation where lawmakers are hopping parties to bring down the government. 

“This must be done before GE15 and there is very little time left,” said Razali.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the 2021 Umno General Assembly (PAU) at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Another former deputy minister Dr Puad Zarkashi said it was not right to postpone the anti-party hopping bill as it involves the integrity of lawmakers.

“It should be expedited because the phenomenon of party hopping has made our country’s politics look bad.

“This has destabilised the political situation and allowed corruption to enter politics. Things like “scheme of things” must not be allowed anymore,” said the newly elected Johor assemblyman.

The Umno supreme council member said that Umno wants a political financing act to be passed. 

“More people will suffer like Umno did if these laws are not put up. Pakatan Harapan will block such laws as it does not want to reveal who their contributors are. Particularly, DAP,” said Puad.

Following their back-to-back wins in Malacca and Johor, Umno has promised to enact anti-party hopping laws at the state and federal levels. It has also pledged to legislate political party funding.

They were commenting on Parliament and Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s confirmation that the anti-party hopping law was being delayed. – March 19, 2022.