Pacific Research Center of Malaysia, a local think tank, is of the opinion that the proposed anti-party hopping law has to strike a balance between punishing elected representatives who jump parties and their right to contest.

The center stated that the proposed law, which is to be tabled in Parliament next month, should make it costly for elected representatives who switch alliances.

The center suggests that those who switch parties vacate their seats.  But the people who vacate their seats should be allowed to contest in the subsequent by-election either under another party logo or as independents.

The Prime Minister’s Department announced in the Dewan Rakyat recently that an anti-hopping Bill would be tabled in Parliament when it meets on Feb 28.

The move is seen by political analysts as part of reforms following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the government of the day and Pakatan Harapan late last year.

However, according to an analyst, the proposed law should also take into consideration the possibility of a hung Parliament where neither side has the required numbers in the Dewan Rakyat.

But another analyst stated that the government may want to table it for the first reading as a show of commitment towards reform.

The Bill has to be passed by both Houses in Parliament, receive the Royal Assent and be gazetted before it is enforced, which means it might not be ready for the next 15th General Election.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE