PBM's latest recruits safe for now as anti-hopping law not yet in effect

Constitutional amendments to punish party hopping were among acts which have received royal assent from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

However, this has raised questions on whether the latest round of party hoppings to Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) had run afoul of the new law.

First, it must be understood that royal assent does not mean the law is in effect. According to the Federal Gazette website, the amendments are not yet in force.

PBM on Sunday welcomed Segamat MP Edmund Santhara Kumar and Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jayakumar into their fold.

Both Santhara and Xavier (above) were elected on PKR tickets in 2018, but left the party in 2020, with the former joining Bersatu and the latter being a pro-Perikatan Nasional independent.

The anti-hopping law punishes both independents who join a party and MPs who switch parties, by disqualifying them as lawmakers and paving the way for snap polls.

But as the law is not in effect, the duo will likely be spared from consequences for now.

‘Please bear with me’

Speaking at a press conference, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar assured that the anti-hopping law will be put into effect before the 15th general election.

"Please bear with me, there are certain reasons, sometimes what we don't expect to happen, happens.

"What is left now is the second leg, that is enforcing the act," he said at the Parliament media room today.

Asked if the law would still be enforced if Parliament is dissolved today, he assured that it still will.

Meanwhile, Teresa Kok (Harapan-Seputeh) also raised the matter of PBM's latest recruits to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun.

"Is PBM's announcement still valid?" she asked.

However, Kok did not cite any standing orders in raising her questions to the speaker.

Citing this lack of procedure, Azhar made no ruling or comments on the matter.

Reporting by Fion Yap, Kow Gah Chie, and Zikri Kamarulzaman.

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