PUTRAJAYA and Pakatan Harapan (PH) need not sign another memorandum of understanding (MOU) as most agreed-upon terms in the first agreement have yet to be implemented, said a political analyst.

Cheah See Kian was commenting on the decision to defer the amendment of article 10(3a) of the Federal Constitution and refer the amendments and drafting of an anti-party hopping law to a parliamentary select committee.

He said a second agreement is not necessary as the first failed to achieve its purpose.

“There is no need for cooperation as everyone has differing views,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“It is better to call for a general election (GE) than sign another useless memorandum.”

The anti-party hopping bill has yet to be made law as the majority of ministers are “frogs”, he added.

“Some jumped from Umno to Bersatu or from PKR to Bersatu. They are already frogs and will not support such a bill.

“These frogs will naturally worry about their future and do not want to be bogged down by a new law.”

The anti-party hopping bill is part of the MOU on transformation and political stability between Putrajaya and PH, signed on September 13.

The agreement requires the government to undertake political and institutional reforms in return for the opposition’s support.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke yesterday suggested Putrajaya and PH extend their cooperation by signing a second MOU and delay calling for a GE later this year.

Extending the agreement’s deadline will allow Dewan Rakyat to table and pass important legislation to outlaw “party-hopping”, and pave the way for other key laws like one that will ban funding discrimination against opposition MPs, he added.

University Tunku Abdul Rahman’s Liew Wei Chern, however, said the deferment has nothing to do with “frogs”.

“It is because they are not confident with their definition of ‘party-hopping’. The initial bill’s terms were too broad.

“If the definition is too broad, it will give too much power (to the government), leading to possible abuse and loopholes.

“Various parties have also voiced disagreement over the matter, which is why it needed to be deferred.”

Liew is of the opinion that Putrajaya and PH will sign another MOU.

“There have been three state elections, and the political situation is different now.

“DAP has also had a change in leadership recently, after its party polls. And PKR will undergo the same next month.

“They need time to adjust to the new leaderships.”

Political analyst Wong Chin Huat said once the anti-party hopping bill is passed, it will allow the opposition to sign another agreement with the government.

“If the public supports it, of course they can sign another MOU.”

Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar earlier said Putrajaya and PH have agreed to review and refine the legal interpretation of restrictions on party-hopping and study the repeal of article 48(6) and related laws. – April 12, 2022.