Azalina submits anti-hopping bills for the second time

16 Nov 2021

By Wartawan Nabalu News

KUALA LUMPUR: Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has submitted two bills related to the proposed anti-party hopping law for the second time to the parliament.

The former deputy speaker said that the two bills are the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2021 and the Regulation of Party Hopping and Political Accountability Bill 2021.

She stated that this is the second submission of an anti-party hopping bill to parliament after the first submission in September was not read in parliament.

“The Regulation of Party Hopping and Political Accountability Bill 2021 will allow elected Members of Parliament to be recalled by their constituents if they party hop, have a lower than 50 per cent attendance in parliament sittings in six consecutive months, or commit a serious criminal offence.

“These Bils are an effort to reinstate decent politics in Malaysia, ensure post-election political stability and return confidence in the electoral and democratic system to voters,” she said in a statement.

She also called upon all MP especially those from the Government and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) bloc which have promised an anti-hopping mechanism in their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for transformation and political stability to ensure that these bills will be scheduled for debate.

“Modify it or defeat them with a better alternative if necessary, but do not let Malaysians down by delaying and denying them a legal tool to hold elected representatives accountable,” she stated.

Azalina explained that if the bills are again buried at the bottom of Government business, the anti-hopping commitment of both the Government and PH in the MOU would be seriously questioned.

Therefore, she said this would invite cynicism, demoralising voters, and eroding confidence in the parliamentary democracy.

"We walk the talk. Put an end to this ‘Frog Colony’,” she asserted.