IT is a shame that another MP, Dr Xavier Jeyakumar from Kuala Langat constituency has defected from PKR to support Perikatan National claiming it was for the general wellbeing of this country, particularly given the Covid-19 pandemic.

The fact is one could still be in PKR as a representative chosen by the people and support the government constructively in view containing the virus and building the economy.

The reasons given by the MP concern does not hold water unless there is a serious issue within the PKR leadership, or have there been political vultures in the surroundings of the MP that seems to be too wild to resist, and the implications of resisting seems to be too heavy to bear? Only the MP concern would be able to honestly answer these questions with his conscience, to the people who elected him through the party he represented.

Party defection after a legitimate general election has become cancerous in this country, and looking at the current political context, politicians could not be relied on to come up with anti-hopping law that would protect the sanctity of the rakyat’s vote.

It’s time for a strong anti-party hopping movement to emerge in Malaysia as way to protect the rights of Malaysians in choosing the government of their choice.

Civil society groups, intellectuals, and Malaysians as whole should start up a signature campaign to pressure the government to formulate anti-hopping laws.

Unless this is done as a national mission, Malaysian democracy will continue to deteriorate in principle and essence. The will of the people will be sacrificed for the survival of unscrupulous and corrupted political elites who are obsessed to remain in power at all cost.

Party-hopping for the so-called survival of an MP is not only immoral, but has great implications to national security and sovereignty of the nation. – March 14, 2021.

* Ronald Benjamin is secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.

* 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.