Azalina answers FAQs on anti-hopping law

She cites voting against party line as example that can be addressed.

Pengerang MP Azalina Othman Said has cited voting against the party line in Parliament as an example of an action that can be addressed in any new anti-party hopping law.

In a Facebook post, the former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker responded to frequently asked questions on the proposed law.

On examples of party hopping, Azalina (below) said this includes “not following the party’s instruction and taking an individual stand in any voting called in Parliament”.

The two other examples of party hopping referred to the more common practice of defection or an entire party being de-registered.

In terms of preventing party hopping, Azalina reiterated suggestions for a recall election to force by-elections in seats where its elected MP had defected to another party.

Alternatively, she said a change of Malaysia’s entire electoral system could see voters casting their ballots for political parties, instead of individual candidates running for a seat.

“The party will win a seat based on the overall percentage of votes garnered,” she said.

Overall, Azalina argued that an anti-party hopping law will prevent the people’s mandate from being sacrificed for individual interest, while at the same time avoid any sudden shock to power balance among political parties.

Azalina, a former law minister under BN’s administration, had for many years consistently called for the enactment of an anti-hopping law.

Despite speculations behind her move to resign as deputy speaker, Azalina’s name was notably absent from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s cabinet.

Following the announcement on Friday, Azalina congratulated deputy de facto law minister Mas Ermieyati Samsudin on her appointment, along with a reminder to prioritise the enactment of an anti-hopping law.

Mas Ermieyati won her Masjid Tanah parliamentary seat in the 14th general election on a BN ticket but defected to Bersatu shortly after Pakatan Harapan formed the government.


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