The Selangor State Assembly, passed a Resolution calling for the Federal Government to enact anti-party hopping laws - but wait, that only applies to MPs and not State Legislative Assembly persons(ADUN) - and such behavior is HYPOCRITICAL unless the State itself enact anti-hopping laws for the State that covers all the ADUNs.
There is no reason why Selangor and other States, not to table amendments to their State laws, against party-hopping. Opposition PH plus states, some which have the two thirds majority, will have no problem even amending the State Constitution to create anti-party hopping laws. That is what the these State must do now - put it place anti-hopping laws for your respective states...
Interesting to note that the original motion tabled was
He explained that the original motion brought by Rajiv was to urge the state government to amend the state constitution so that the seat of an elected representative who jumped the party would be vacated.
“As assemblymen, including me, (there is a possibility)
for anyone at all picked in any election at some point to jump from a
party, resort to betrayal and so on for certain reasons.
Anyway, it seems like that Motion was amended, and the motion that was ultimately passed was 'The Selangor State Assembly today approved a motion urging the Federal Government to enact an anti-party hopping bill...'
So, as mentioned earlier - any party hopping passed by Parliament, including Federal Constitution amendment, will not apply to the States or their State Assemblypersons - because they are governed by the relevant State Constitution and State laws.
So, will Selangor now amend their State laws to ensure anti-party hopping > or are they being hypocritical by simply asking the Federal Government, but doing the same in their State, which will affect all ADUNs...
State governments can table Bills to amend the 'State Constitution' or enact laws to deal with anti-party hopping. The State government can table the relevant Bill fast - and let us see how the ADUNs will vote. Those with more than two third majority can also easily amend State Constitutions.
Remember, all parties suffered from 'party-hopping' including the Barisan Nasional. The people wants it, but the question is whether the politicians and their political parties want this or not?
One major problem is that many MPs and/or ADUNs lack the confidence that the people will choose them as their peoples' representatives, if they leave the party under which they stood for elections and won.
ANTI-HOPPING LAWS - What we need is a a law that automatically disqualifies a peoples' elected representative, who stood and was elected as an MP/State Assembly person standing under a particular party, thereafter 'HOPS" to another political party or become an independent. Thereafter, there will be an immediate elections, where the 'disqualified' peoples' rep will have the right to contest. The people then decide who they want as the peoples' representative > which means that people may also decide to vote in again the same person, despite the fact that he/she is now in a different party or coalition of parties.
in Uganda in Article(83) of their Constitution, where it is stated that ‘…a Member of Parliament may lose his or her seat in any of the following instances—
- On resignation in writing to the Speaker;- If he or she subsequently ceases to qualify to be a Member of Parliament;- If he or she is absent from 15 sittings without permission of the Speaker;- If he or she is found guilty of violation of the Leadership Code of Conduct;- If he or she joins another party or leaves the party and decides to remain an Independent member;- If a member was elected as an independent and joins a party; or- On appointment as a public officer….’
After all, these MPs or ADUNs are peoples' representatives in Parliament and/or the State Legislative Assemblies > it is key that they are TRULY the peoples' choice > if not, the peoples' right of representation will be lost > if someone remains as the 'peoples' rep' but in reality no longer has the support of the people because he left the party/coalition he belonged to, which is a VERY IMPORTANT consideration for most voters.
We will now see whether Selangor, Penang and/or the other States even enact anti-hopping laws in their States soon - or is all mere 'political posturing' or 'false representations'..we shall see - ALL TALK AND NO ACTION must be criticized, and penalized by the voters come next elections..
Now, maybe they may argue about Mahathir or others who did not leave their political parties but were 'expelled' by their party. YES - automatic disqualifications, and elections > we shall see who really have the peoples' support. Will the people re-elect them? Will the people reject them and choose another? YES, they are 'peoples' representative' - so the PEOPLE...the RAKYAT ...decides, and people are smart and they will vote wisely.
Any MP/ADUN who have no confidence that the people of the constituency will support them, should really just RESIGN now.
Selangor state assembly approves motion to create anti-party hopping law
SHAH ALAM: The Selangor State Assembly today approved a motion urging the Federal Government to enact an anti-party hopping bill.
The motion which was brought by R. Rajiv (pix) (PH-Bukit Gasing) is to prevent any Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman (Adun) from jumping party, and it was unanimously supported by the members of the assembly.
Meanwhile, Selangor State Assembly Speaker Ng Suee Lim said the motion was approved as a call to any elected representative who leave the party to vacate the seat in order to defend the mandate given via the general election.
He explained that the original motion brought by Rajiv was to urge the state government to amend the state constitution so that the seat of an elected representative who jumped the party would be vacated.
“As assemblymen, including me, (there is a possibility) for anyone at all picked in any election at some point to jump from a party, resort to betrayal and so on for certain reasons.
“So, we urge the federal government to draft an anti-party hopping law,“ he told reporters at the lobby of the State Assembly here yesterday.
He said the motion would be sent to Parliament within two more weeks to be examined if there is a need for improvements.
Ng said six motions were approved during the sitting from Monday, namely, the Selangor Economic Recovery Plan proposal, poverty eradication, Selangor water resource management, local authority performance appraisal, speeding up the pipe replacement process as well as anti-party jumping.
On the progress of the State Assembly, he said it went smoothly and praised the attitude of the state government and opposition elected representatives who debated professionally.
The State Assembly was postponed yesterday to a date to be determined later. — Bernama, Malaysiakini, 16/7/2020
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