Two-thirds support needed to enact anti-party hopping act - Takiyuddin

According to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, if the said article is not amended, it can be challenged by any party in court.

"If we want to introduce an anti-party hopping law, we have to amend the Constitution first, related to freedom of association.

"And, there is an anti-party hopping law in Penang, but when a PKR state assemblymen (ADUN) jump the party, the Penang government does not dare to fire him.

"I am sure, if he is fired, he will take them to court," he said here on Saturday.

Takiyuddin gave an example when the Kelantan state government enacted an anti-party hopping enactment in 1990.

When two ADUNs jumped the party, he said, the state government declared they have been stripped of their position as ADUNs.

Following that, the two state assemblymen challenged the state government's decision and the court later ruled that the state government's enactment was in conflict with the country's Constitution.

"Taking a cue from the incident, to enact an anti -party hopping act, it requires an amendment to Article 10 (1) (c) of the country's Constitution," he said.

Takiyuddin was commenting on Wanita MCA's proposal on Saturday for the government to immediately enact an anti-party hopping law before the 15th General Election (GE15) to stop the 'political frog' culture.

Wanita MCA chief Datuk Heng Seai Kie said the culture was deteriorating, therefore, the country would not be stable if the law was not enacted.