Amend the Election Act instead of Anti Hopping Act

Repost of Friday, May 16, 2008
The law for Hopping issue..


The general election of 8th March has cost the BN their 2/3 majority in the parliament seats. Although they have setup the new government instantly but how long can this said government last for?

It has been a hot topic about MPs hopping from BN to Pakatan Rakyat particularly from East Malaysia after Dato Seri Anwar has publicly mention that he has successfully receive sufficient number of MPs to overthrown the BN government and build the new central government of pakatan rakyat. While on the other hand, the BN side seen like starting to draft an anti hopping act to prohibit any MPs from their side to hop to the opposition.


However, I personally think that any act that prohibit people included elected MPs to leave his/her/theirs existing parties to join others for their better matched political objectives, philosophies and views of nation and social affairs is unacceptable; it is just like prohibit a worker from leaving an organization and join another which found to have offer a better condition and environment.

My objection on the establishment of any anti-hopping act is to ensure that each and every Members of the parliament will be able to contribute more effectively and efficiently to fight for their voters under the flag of a more suitable political party.

Meanwhile, I suggest for amendments to be made on the existing election act in order to tackle the political hopping issue as below:
Election Act Sect xxx

Any of the candidates who won in the election as elected MP must remain in his/her said party as registered during the general election for his/her term of service of 5 years or prior to the dissolve of the parliament; any elected candidates who withdraw from the said party as registered (to join any others or remain independent) during his/her term of service should be automatically sacked as Member of the Parliament while a by-election should called up within the next 30days for new Member of Parliament for particular seat.

Sub- section:
The said MP who been sacked is eligible to be nominated for the said by-election as an independent candidates or candidates under his/her new party.

My suggestion is actually to ensure that politician/ any of the MPs are not restricted to remain in a party that he/she might not able to perform his/her responsibility as for the best of his/her voters.

Nonetheless, it also gave a second chance for voters to eliminate candidate who is purely a political speculator that hopping from party to another for his/her individual interest.


Lastly, if the said candidate remain as the MP after the by-election, it should be clear that the voters are satisfy with the candidate’s individual performance as the voice of theirs in the hall of parliament instead of the which party does he/she represent and serve for.