IN Malaysian politics we have reached a state of moral crisis where the electoral mandate of the people has been taken for granted by self-serving politicians.

The latest party hopping of Azman Nasiruddin (Lunas) and Robert Ling (Sidam) in the Kedah state assembly is a consequence of historical neglect by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government and even Pakatan Harapan (PH) on grasping the far-reaching implications of such party hopping behaviours to the integrity of the people’s mandate and the moral credibility of the government.

It should not be forgotten that it was the moral distrust of the majority of the electorate that brought down the kleptocratic government of Najib Razak.

It was hoped that a new dawn would emerge with PH in power, which would bring about changes that would enhance electoral integrity, but unfortunately the coalition was held hostage by power play and ethnic politics, which had all flavours of racism instead of the common good. There should have been more focus on maruah rakyat than maruah melayu.

Looking at the history of party hopping, the BN government has been the main beneficiary due to its strong ethno-centric politics and financial means. A government by the people and for the people is projected in form rather than substance during general elections. What could one expect from the current Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, which is helmed by immoral politicians from the past and present?

The hopping of Umno MPs from Bersatu should not have been allowed at that time when Pakatan Harapan was in power and the coalition should have initiated an anti-hopping law. One would assume that Umno would have supported an anti-hopping law then when its own MPs were jumping ship at that time. Time and opportunities were wasted. There were voices from DAP youth and PKR opposing such crossovers but not strong enough to get the PH presidential council to reject party-hopping.

Formulating an anti-hopping law would require passing constitutional hurdles. Article 48(1) and Part I(6) of the Eight Schedule of the federal constitution do not state that party-hopping will lead to an MP or state assemblyman being disqualified.

Article 48(6) states that a person who resigns his membership of the house of representatives shall, for a period of five years, beginning from the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member. Politicians could be reluctant to vacate their seat due to this aspect of law.

The article was added to the constitution in a 1990 amendment tabled and passed during Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s former administration.

All this was done from the position of power and strength without having the wisdom of understanding that it would backfire someday.

The back-door PN government currently finds legitimacy of power by providing favourable GLC positions to dissenting MPs. Coming up with an anti-hopping law is not possible under a government that has benefitted from people hopping to its side.

The ball goes back to the rakyat in the 15th general election to choose candidates of moral integrity and those candidates should be made to make public pledges that they will not in any way betray the trust of the rakyat. – May 14, 2020.

* Ronald Benjamin reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.