Party-hopping: What's up with 'Jumping Jacks'?

The discussion about legislating an Anti-Party Hopping Law is ongoing, and the party-hopping trend amongst Members of Parliament (MPs) in several states in the Peninsular has led to change in government earlier this year.

Now, in Sabah, the party-hopping situation has led to the dissolution of the State Legislative Assembly, and the Sabahans are now anticipating for a snap state elections which will take place in September 2020.

What does this mean?

Is it necessary to create an Anti-Party Hopping law?

According to Universiti Putra Malaysia’s lecturer of Politics and Government Professor Dr Jayum Anak Jawan, in politics and democracy landscape, the mandate given by the people is correct and accurate at the time the vote is given.

“The elected representatives are chosen because of the issues faced by the people, and what was important at that point of time.

"Once elected, the interests of the people may change. Therefore, the stance and support of their representatives also needs to be re-evaluated.

“On this basis, there is freedom for elected representatives to change their support. But, this is not something that should be done arbitrarily like changing clothes,” he said.

What the law says?

It has been argued that an Anti-Party Hopping Law would be “unconstitutional” because it contravenes Article 10 (1) (c) which allows all citizens to form associations freely.

The objective of Article 10 as whole is to guarantee freedom of expression, but not at the expense of national security interests.

However, some critics have maintained that it is necessary to create an Anti-Party Hopping Law to prevent horse-trading and switching among MPs and prevent political expediency over public interest.

And the MPs say...

Recently, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said legislating an Anti-Party Hopping Law must be done to avert the country from financial wastage, as the cost of holding several by-elections has cost Malaysia more than RM12 million.

Lembah Pantai MP, Fahmi Fadzil believes that the act should be enacted to prove that reform is possible in the parliamentary institutions.

In fact, this issue was brought up during a Parliament sitting in late July when Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas) proposed for a new electoral system to be introduced where voters will choose a party instead of an individual candidate to solve the party hopping issue.

In an exclusive interview with Astro AWANI, Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin agrees in legislating an Anti-Party Hopping Law and hopes that the Elections Act will also be amended to allow those who resign as elected representatives to participate in by-elections, without having to wait five years.

Why should I care?

The ongoing issue where politicians continuously switch sides and hop parties does have an impact.

For example, when former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir resigned after Parti Pribumi Bersatu Bersatu quit Pakatan Harapan coalition, RM43.4 billion was wiped out of Bursa Malaysia stock exchange.