Anti-hopping law: MPs can support another party without losing seat
PARLIAMENT | Under the anti-hopping bill that was approved by the Dewan Rakyat today, an MP is still free to throw their support to a different party, including when voting in Parliament.
According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, such action does not constitute party hopping as long as they remain in their original political party...
PARLIAMENT | Under the anti-hopping bill that was approved by the Dewan Rakyat today, an MP is still free to throw their support to a different party, including when voting in Parliament.
According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, such action does not constitute party hopping as long as they remain in their original political party.
However, he stressed, the scenario would be different if the party constitution bans such action, and makes one automatically "ceases" to be its member once the rule is breached.
"An MP who gives his or her support to another party is not considered as party hopping. Because the MP is still a member of his or her political party.
"But I would like to explain this further. Since this matter was also deliberated at length by the select committee.
"This situation is when the MP gives support, for example, an opposition member supporting a government motion, and the party does not ban such action,” he said.
"However, if the MP's own party bans such an act and has a provision in its constitution that says so, it is a different story," he added.
Wan Junaidi (above) gave the explanation during his winding-up speech after MPs finished debating the bill for its second reading today.
He was addressing the concern raised by several MPs about the definition of party hopping - whether they are still free to give support not according to their party line and not risk losing their parliamentary seat.
An example given during the debate session was the vote of confidence scenario, where MPs would be required to vote whether they still support a prime minister or otherwise.
"If an MP who holds a principle that is against the principle of his party, and its constitution says by doing so he ceases to be a member of the party, then the MP would be considered as having changed party and has to vacate his parliamentary seat."
Party logo
Meanwhile, in his speech, Wan Junaidi also explained that an MP who contested in an election using a coalition logo, or another party's logo, is also not considered party hopping.
This is as long as the MP remains in their original party, or for an independent MP, stays as an independent.
"In this matter, using a political party's symbol, or a coalition's, is not taken into account by this bill.
"It means that an individual who uses the logo of a certain party is not considered as having changed party if they return to their own party or maintain as an independent."
The bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat this evening after 209 MPs voted in support.
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