Table 'stronger' anti-hopping laws by July, election watchdog tells PM

Shah Alam - Electoral watchdog Bersih has demanded Putrajaya to table new and stronger anti-hopping law in the first week of July parliamentary sitting after a U-turn on tabling the laws on April 11.

In a statement, it said it is disappointment with the delay but hoped the Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration would adopt an Anti-Hopping Recall laws formulated by Bersih and tabled by Umno's Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

It said the recall laws includes the seat of any lawmaker can be vacated on the three grounds - MPs leaving or getting expelled by party, independent MPs joining party - as well as coalition-hopping by parties which is not covered by anti-hopping laws.

"If enough voters sign signatures to support a recall petition in 21 days. The signature threshold Bersih recommends at least 40% or half of the turnout rate in the last election.

"We believe more than two-third majority of MPs would support the passing of any anti-hopping mechanism to restore political stability and sanity," it added.

It said states must be given the freedom to explore and choose their preferred anti-hopping mechanism, which may be any variant of anti-hopping laws and recall laws.

It further said Bersih believes, when the recall laws are tabled, MPs or political parties which refuse to support the bill must be prepared to face the wrath of voters who have to suffer years of political instability and see their votes betrayed by party hoppers.

The much-awaited anti-hopping laws were suppose to be tabled on April 11 after the government failed to table it during the last Parliament sitting. The special parliamentary sitting slated for April 11 will be held as usual but without the anti-hopping laws, the government has announced.