KUCHING, March 15: Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak holds that the seat of a politician should be vacated to give way to fresh election once the politician decides to leave the party he or she belongs to.
“The seat should be declared vacant to allow fresh election be held immediately. The electorates must be given fresh right to choose who is worthy of their trusts.
“We are confident more than ever that the people are aware and may teach the frogs lessons they badly need,” said PKR Sarawak secretary general Joshua Jabeng on party hopping.
Recently, three PKR MPs – Kuala Langat MP Datuk Dr Xavier Jayakumar, Julau MP Larry Sng and Tebrau MP Steven Choong declared leaving PKR and remain as independent elected representatives. Though partyless, they pledged their allegiance to Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Joshua believed that a law must be passed to stop party hopping.
“As party hopping will involve SPR any legislation to stop it has to be passed by the Act of Parliament,” he said.
He pointed out that the Counsel of Elders (COE) of PKR Sarawak strongly agreed that party hopping is something never to be taken lightly because is involves people’s mandate and infringe on their democratic right as citizens.
“Party hopping mid-way after being duly elected is an absolute betrayal of the people’s trust and mockery to democracy upon which this nation is founded,” said Joshua.
He said the claim given by party hoppers that they can serve their votes better was only an excuse and “to quote Covid-19 pandemic as reason for defection only confirms the Darurat (the Emergency) is all farce”.
“In Perikatan National’s (PN) desperation to hang to power, the real reasons lie much deeper. But whatever reason, ‘political frogging’ is very disgraceful.
“Whatever action taken against party hoppers is welcomed including immediate disqualification from public office,” said Joshua. — DayakDaily
