New anti-party hopping bill timely as Malaysia saw 37 MPs party-hop, 3 Prime Ministers since 2018

Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok

KUCHING, July 29: Malaysia has seen 37 Member of Parliaments (MPs) switch sides and three different people holding the post of Prime Minister in a span of four years since 2018.

In stating this, Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok said the figure on ‘political frogs’ symbolised the political instability in the country.

Following this, he believed that the passing of Constitutional (Amendment) Bill (No 3) 2022 on Provisions Preventing Members of Parliament from Switching Parties or commonly called the “anti-party hopping bill” in Parliament yesterday (July 28) will put a stop on the “frog-leaping” behaviour among MPs.

“We have inherited the political system from United Kingdom that is based on high moral standard where the unwritten rules on ‘our words are our bond’ be high in integrity, honesty and principle.

“We have to move on when we have set the rules into the law so that the our political system will hold our elected MPs to account to the electorates who voted for them,” he said in a statement today.

He further said that the anti-party hopping law would be able to rid Malaysia of politicians who are populists and self-centred apart from providing stability to the government that takes charge of Putrajaya after the 15th General Election.

“I think with the new law in place, there will be much more stable government that can attract FDI (foreign direct investment) and minimise politicking and bickering in the background. Politicians will begin to realise that the people is the boss.

“I wish to congratulate all those who voted in this meaningful law for the betterment of Malaysians now and in the future,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily