PARTY-HOPPING cannot be abolished, so a mechanism is needed to make elected representatives vacate their seats to respect their voters’ mandate, said PKR chief organising secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Because the federal constitution doesn’t prohibit lawmakers for changing parties after getting elected, Malaysia should create a balanced mechanism to deal with party-hopping, he told Insight Talk today.

“There are some who want a complete ban on party-hopping but that can cause problems, too. 

“Some also want to quit because of conscience, such as if we do not agree with our party… or if we feel that the party has strayed from its promises, or if the party has become corrupt. Are we then still bound to it?

“So then comes the question, if we want a complete ban on party-hopping.”

However, the Setiawangsa MP said politicians who wish to switch allegiances mid-term should relinquish their elected post and immediately contest the seat again under their new logo.

“We should allow those who want to hop to another party or to quit their existing party (to go). 

“But before that, they need to resign from all posts and vacate their seats. 

“Then there can be a by-election called to let the voters decide, whether they want the same person.”

Article 48 (6) of the constitution states that an MP who vacates his public office is disqualified from contesting for the House for five years. 

Nik Nazmi said this part of the federal constitution needs to be amended if such a mechanism is to be allowed. 

He recounted former Johor Baru MP, Shahrir Abdul Samad, who quit Umno in 1988 but also vacated his seat, and stood as an independent candidate in a by-election.

However, the federal constitution was amended in 1990 to include the 5-year moratorium on standing for election.

The amendment is aimed at reducing costs for the government, which would otherwise have to hold by-elections.

Nik Nazmi agreed that costs would be incurred, but added that  such a move may reduce the party-hopping. 

“Correct (it may incur more cost). (But) if we have such a mechanism, not many would hop party because they might be afraid to meet the people who voted for them in the earlier elections,” he said. 

In recent weeks, three PKR lawmakers left the party to become independent lawmakers and backed Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

They are Xavier Jayakumar (Kuala Langat), Larry Sng (Julau) and Steven Choong (Tebrau).

They make up a total of 15 PKR MPs who have quit the party since February last year, when new alliances were formed to topple the Pakatan Harapan government. – March 17, 2021.