BUKIT Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh has described as “wrong” and “frightening” the defection of lawmakers from Umno to Bersatu.

Ramkarpal, of DAP, said almost half of Bersatu’s lawmakers now had contested and won on a Barisan Nasional ticket in the 14th general election.

Yesterday, seven lawmakers, formerly of Umno, received their Bersatu membership certificates, boosting the Pakatan Harapan component’s representation in the Dewan Rakyat from 13 to 22 MPs.

“The very real possibility that such Umno MPs will soon form the majority of Bersatu is indeed frightening,” said Ramkarpal in a statement tonight.

“The recent inclusion of seven Umno MPs in Bersatu is completely wrong and goes against what the people had voted for in GE14.”

He reiterated the need for anti-hopping laws to be enacted, but added that such a hope remains distant, seeing as to how PH has accepted “frogs” with open arms.

The seven MPs are Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Shabudin Yahaya (Tasek Gelugor) and Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (Masjid Tanah).

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also Bersatu and PH chairman, has defended the crossovers.

Asked about Shabudin, who had accused DAP secretary-general and PH deputy president Lim Guan Eng of corruption in the past, Dr Mahathir said: “If you were to look at everyone’s past, you would not be able to appoint anyone. They have all made mistakes, but they should not be held (accountable for past mistakes). It’s who they are now that counts.”

Ramkarpal, who is also DAP’s legal bureau chairman, said there is no evidence that the seven MPs have repented.

“With the greatest of respect, what are they now? To me, they are no different today than what they were before.

“It matters not what these former Umno MPs call themselves today, as it’s the substance that counts, not the label.

“There is absolutely no evidence that these former Umno MPs have repented for being complicit in the previous regime, nor has any of them publicly condemned the kleptocratic former government.”

The lawyer singled out Shabudin, who said, during a Parliament sitting in April 2017, that rape victims could marry their rapists.

“Accepting a person who once said he is open to the idea of a woman marrying her rapist into a coalition committed to reform is mind-boggling, as such an action reflects a complete disregard of such reforms.”

While acknowledging that Dr Mahathir has given an assurance that all the MPs had been vetted, Ramkarpal questioned how much the people would trust them.

“Again, with respect, how much ‘vetting’ of such MPs would convince the people that they are somehow ‘cleansed’ today, compared with nine months ago?

“The reality… is that the people remain sceptical, regardless of such vetting, as these very same MPs once stood for exactly the opposite of what PH stands for today.

“Crossovers are deplorable in any democracy as they betray the will of the people. This, surely, must be the most important of considerations when deciding whether to accept ‘frogs’.” – February 13, 2019.