KUALA LUMPUR – The Anti-Party Hopping Act has weaknesses and may need to be amended, an Umno leader and unity government figure conceded, after four opposition MPs declared their support for the prime minister without leaving their parties.
Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, who is deputy finance minister I, said the recent developments were “highly peculiar” as the Perikatan Nasional (PN) lawmakers had declared their support for the government and yet did not see any impact on their positions.
“It is awkward for an opposition MP who opposes their party but remains within the opposition. Therefore, these anomalies need to be reconsidered through specific amendments,” he was quoted as saying by New Straits Times.
“The Anti-Party Hopping Act must be re-examined because we have not faced such a situation before. It is a new matter, and I hope the act will be rectified or amended,” Ahmad added when speaking at an event in his Pontian constituency today.
The Umno Supreme Council member was commenting on whether the act, which went into effect in October last year, needed to be amended.
Questions about loopholes in the act have arisen after the four lawmakers – Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid, Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik – recently declared support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
They did so in order to receive federal allocations for their constituencies.
They remain as MPs while facing disciplinary action from their party, Bersatu, including suspensions.
It has also led to Bersatu president and PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin urging a review of the Anti-Party Hopping Act, which only deems a seat vacant if the lawmakers quit their party. It does not address a lawmaker’s change of allegiance without leaving their party.
Ahmad today added that amending the act is needed to address this loophole.
“It is awkward when an MP disagrees with us (the party), but we cannot dismiss them, and we can only suspend them. This is because dismissing MPs who switch support would result in the party losing seats, and a by-election would have to be held according to the act,” he was quoted as saying. – November 12, 2023