PARTY-hopping was visibly popularised as a concept and practice by former MP Ibrahim Ali at one time because of the regularity of his “political mutation” so much so that he earned the unenviable moniker of “Si Katak” (The Frog).

Of course, jumping ship is not the preserve of Ibrahim in Malaysian politics as illustrated by a number of leap-frogging by other politicians in the past. Indeed, there was a time when a big number of Barisan Nasional (BN) MPs (who were herded away to Taiwan for safe keeping) were induced by the opposition to jump ship with the aim of tipping the balance of power.

Fast-forward. Malaysia’s current politics is also afflicted by this political blight. In fact, party-hopping is a cause for concern when politicians started to desert the battle-weary BN, particularly Umno, and opted for certain components of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, namely Bersatu.

It’s been rumoured recently that 40 Umno MPs would defect to Bersatu, the kind of gossip that is sufficient to rattle PH component parties particularly PKR, whose leader is premier-designate Anwar Ibrahim. Such purported defection would likely strengthen Bersatu in terms of its parliamentary presence as well as its political strength in the PH pact.

This rumoured defection has also perturbed civil society groups especially after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi claimed that there was an attempt to dissolve his party so as to induce its MPs to join Bersatu.

Irrespective of whether such rumours or claims are true, political defection of this nature is indeed worrying for most Malaysians, especially those who had voted for real change in the last general election.

Malaysians voted the PH into power with the collective understanding and trust that the coalition would steer the country away from the colossal financial and political mess and injustices that were grimly associated with the previous BN administration.

In short, they just want all the bad things represented by BN to be put behind them – and move on with a relatively cleaner slate.

The fear that PH, as a result of this supposed massive defection, would transform into a BN 2.0 is obviously ghastly in the minds of the electorate, especially mindful of the injection of politicians who are used to riding the gravy train.

To be clear, switching parties is indeed a part of the freedom of association and, therefore, is legitimate especially when it is committed on the basis of certain principles and integrity.

Thus, it would have been highly commendable, and noble even, had certain BN MPs and politicians hopped to PH when, for instance, the 1MDB scandal was being unravelled and especially prior to the 14th general election simply because the financial controversy was too despicable for them.

But, to jump ship now would invite suspicion and derision because it would be easily construed as rats hurriedly leaving the sinking ship.

And it is even worse if the purported mass defection was aimed at weakening, if not annihilating, Umno and, in turn, strengthening Bersatu in the PH coalition. Such Machiavellian manoeuvre should not even be hatched in the so-called “New Malaysia”.

PH, particularly Bersatu, should instead seek new blood in their endeavour to strengthen themselves politically – and not old blood, much of which is tainted with corrupt DNA.

On the part of the opposition, particularly Umno, they must get their act together by providing new direction that would offer hope and good reasons for their politicians to remain loyal and, subsequently, make a convincing comeback on their own steam.

The resuscitation of the opposition is obviously crucial if democracy is to remain robust in a country that is just experiencing a new dawn.

An emasculated opposition is a stone’s throw to a slippery slope of authoritarianism because the mechanism for check and balance would become weak. If and when this happens, nobody gains except the resultant authoritarian regime.

An anti-party hopping law was bandied about as the remedy to this problem. But, then, it may well raise some questions.

As a general rule, if the conscience (which can be a rare commodity these days) of a MP dictates that he or she should leave the party because he or she is no longer agreeable with the views or ideology of his current party, shouldn’t the politician abandon ship?

Moreover, the defecting politician may argue that he or she is only obeying the wishes of the constituency concerned or for reason of the “greater good”, i.e. to leave the party that is perceived to have taken a wrong political path. Shouldn’t the defection occur?

To prevent a MP from leaving his or her current party may make him or her an unbearable thorn in the party’s side with dire consequences for both in the mid- and long-term. Is this desirable?

Under such circumstance, the PH must be really prudent when it comes to accepting new membership – and not too lax to the equivalent of Perak’s recent move to make polygamy much easier.

Furthermore, if indeed joining PH is also a shrewd attempt to avoid corruption probes, then it is as much a smudge on the reputation of the opposition politicians concerned as it is on the public image of PH. PH should not be a convenient vehicle to protect oneself against corruption investigation.

Whatever course that PH takes on this party-hopping issue, what is clear is that the rakyat, who hunger for real change, do not want to see the wreckages of yesteryears to re-emerge in future. – November 2, 2018.