Anti-hopping law: DAP wants to amend party constitution to plug 'loophole'
DAP's top decision-making body will hold a special congress next month to amend the party's constitution to insert provisions stripping the membership of any of its MP or state assemblyperson who does not follow party decisions.
This was decided in connection with the Anti-Party Hopping Bill, which the Dewan Rakyat passed on July 28.
DAP’s top decision-making body will hold a special congress next month to amend the party’s constitution to insert provisions stripping the membership of any of its MP or state assemblyperson who does not follow party decisions.
This was decided in connection with the Anti-Party Hopping Bill, which the Dewan Rakyat passed on July 28.
In a statement, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said the special congress would be held this Sept 25, where the party leadership would propose amendments to the party constitution.
“The party constitution amendment committee headed by Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has been tasked to study the matter thoroughly and to draft and present the proposed amendment to the central executive committee within a month.
“The proposed amendment will be tabled at the upcoming special congress for debate and subsequently to be approved by qualified representatives present at the said congress,” he said.
According to Loke, the decision was made by the DAP central executive committee in its meeting two days ago.
Not being draconian
In a press conference at DAP headquarters today, he told reporters that they saw a loophole in the new law aimed at discouraging MPs from switching parties.
“When an MP is sacked by their party, the MP is not considered to be switching parties and thus, is not obligated to vacate their seat.
“We see this as a loophole that needs to be plugged. Because we are concerned that (it can be abused) by MPs who want to jump ship, where they purposely do things to make the party sack them,” he said.
Loke, however, denied that DAP was being draconian against differences of opinion.
He said the new provisions they wished to include in the party constitution would only apply to “special circumstances”, such as appointing a prime minister and voting on the budget.
Meanwhile, at the conference, Loke was asked if Negeri Sembilan and Selangor - which are states under Pakatan Harapan control - would follow the federal government’s timeline for election.
Loke replied that the coalition had yet to make a decision.
“We will make a decision later, whether to dissolve (state assemblies) at the same time (with Parliament) or not.
“Harapan will need to make a policy decision on Negeri Sembilan and Selangor,” he said.
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