DAP moves to amend party constitution with anti-hopping provisions

DAP has moved to amend its party constitution to insert provisions stripping the membership of any of its MP or state assemblyperson who does not follow party decisions.

Its secretary-general Anthony Loke revealed that it had received the vote of all but two representatives present at the congress today, receiving what Loke called “99.9 percent” support.

“The anti-hopping amendment has been approved, as proposed by party representatives,” said Loke before adding that it will be submitted to the Registry of Societies Malaysia (ROS).

“We hope the ROS will approve as soon as possible so that we can implement these amendments before the 15th general election (GE15),” he added.

The move was decided in connection with anti-party hopping legislation that was introduced into the Federal Constitution via a bill passed by the Dewan Rakyat on July 28.

The first amendment will see any member of DAP who is an MP, state assemblyperson, or appointed senator cease to be a party member if they fail to comply with directives issued by the party’s central executive committee (CEC).

The second amendment will add a provision that states the CEC may issue specific directives to any of its elected representatives at the Dewan Rakyat, state assemblies, or appointed senators.

During the second reading of the anti-hopping bill in the Dewan Rakyat in July, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said an MP is free to support a different party, including when voting in Parliament.

Such an action would not constitute party hopping as long as they remain in their original political party, he had said.

However, Wan Junaidi said this is not the case if a party’s constitution bans such action and makes one automatically “cease” to be a member once the rule is breached.

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