DAP Youth wants party-hopping law to stem 'worrying' Umno crossovers

DAP Youth has called on the Pakatan Harapan government to enact a law that prevents lawmakers from jumping parties.

Outgoing president Wong Kah Woh said that Malaysia should follow in the steps of 41 other countries – including India, Thailand, Uganda and Papua New Guinea – which have already put such laws into place.

He said the recent crossovers of former BN lawmakers, primarily from Umno, to Pakatan Harapan was a worrying trend that went against the basic principles of democracy.

"Recently, we have seen MPs, especially from Umno, being accepted into Harapan. This is a very worrying phenomenon.

"Although we want our component parties to expand and to become stronger, we cannot accept lawmakers who are our rivals and enemies from the other side," he said during his keynote address at the DAP Youth congress in Serdang Jaya today.

While not dismissing the existence of opposition MPs with good qualities, Wong stressed that Harapan should respect voters' decision to reject the old ruling party in the 14th general election.

He said party jumping was an old culture practised by BN, and reminded the assembled delegates of the "bitter experience" of 2009 when then-Pakatan Rakyat coalition lost their power in Perak.

"I believe that the time has come for the government to legislate a law against jumping parties, like what has been enacted in 41 countries.

"If they want to quit their party, they (lawmakers) should contest in a by-election and prove their popularity," he said.

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