NGO to launch roadshow campaign for anti-hopping law
An NGO has vowed to hold a nationwide roadshow to drum up public support for the need of an anti-hopping law which penalises elected representatives who defect from the parties they stood for.
Sahabat Erat dan Amanat Rakyat Malaysia Association (Sedar) chairperson Nazrin Norani today said that the group will bring along their ongoing petition which has gathered more than 2,000 signatures since it was launched on Dec 22.
An NGO has vowed to hold a nationwide roadshow to drum up public support for the need of an anti-hopping law which penalises elected representatives who defect from the parties they stood for.
Sahabat Erat dan Amanat Rakyat Malaysia Association (Sedar) chairperson Nazrin Norani today said that the group will bring along their ongoing petition which has gathered more than 2,000 signatures since it was launched on Dec 22.
“Based on the feedback that we have received, we will have a road show all over Malaysia to collect signatures (for the petition).
“We will use a concept where we have a dialogue with the rakyat and we will meet with them and tell them why party-hopping is a practice that needs to be stopped.
“And a message to the MPs out there is that we will go to your constituencies and tell your constituents,” he told a press conference at the MCA headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.
Sedar aims to collect 200,000 signatures by June 2019 before handing the petition over to the opposition leader of the Dewan Rakyat in July. As for funding, Nazrin (below) said Sedar would not need much money as they will be relying on volunteers.
De facto law minister Liew Vui Keong previously shot down the possibility of an anti-hopping law for lawmakers, citing Article 10 (1)(c) of the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of association.
Sedar contended that such a law would not contravene the constitution as it would not prohibit lawmakers from switching parties but would merely state the consequences for such an action - the need to stand for a fresh election.
The petition additionally calls for an equitable allocation of monies for both government and opposition elected representatives.
'We are independent'
Asked why the MCA headquarters was chosen as the venue for today's press conference, Nazrin explained it was because the BN component party supported their cause and offered the space for free.
He stressed that Sedar was independent of political influence.
Asked further why several of Sedar’s online talk shows were seen to be produced by Nothing To Hide Media, he admitted that the Umno-linked media outfit had offered to produce their content.
“Both our shows are filmed live in the Nothing To Hide studios. We met the owner Azwanddin (Hamzah) by chance and he offered the sets with no strings attached [...] they are just a platform,” Nazrin said.
Azwanddin is also Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president.
Earlier, Nazrin had described Sedar as an NGO set up to “check and balance” both the government and the opposition focusing on issues ranging from parliamentary oversight, racial ties and youth to the economy and the B40 segment.
Aside Nazrin, Sedar is led by its deputy chairperson, MIC Youth member AP Subash Chandrabose.
Since the 14th general election, which saw BN lose government for the first time, Umno has been hit with a total of 16 defections.
Three of which have since joined Pakatan Harapan component party Bersatu, while one has joined Warisan. Others remain as independents.
