Delay on anti-hopping law looks bad for both govt and PH, says experts
SHAH ALAM - The delay in tabling anti-hopping laws (AHL) does not reflect well on the government and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, says experts.
Political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Sidek said such delays will give way to speculations that the current government fears that component parties within will withdraw their support or end their tenure should the AHL be tabled.
“Everybody has agreed, so why the delay? All this does is confuse the people,” he said.
After suffering defeats in the recent state elections, the National Council of Professors Politics, Security and International Affairs Cluster secretary believes that the opposition parties are buying time to remain loyal to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Transformation and Political Stability so that they may heal any internal strife and “lick their wounds”.
“If the indicators are correct, based on 60 years of Malaysian history, anytime ‘goodies’ are being given to the people, it means that a general election (GE) is just around the corner,” he added, referring to the RM500 Hari Raya gifts government officers will be getting.
“Once the feel-good factor is there, the government will be confident that the people will be voting for them once again.
This, he said, was also why coalitions such as PH were trying to put their house back in order and why former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was trying to gather all the opposition parties to form a solid front in the battle against Barisan Nasional (BN).
“Likewise, it also makes sense for BN to push for GE15 as they want to strike while their enemies are weak,” he told Sinar Daily.
Meanwhile, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research’s Dr Azmi Hassan highlighted that what matters was not just when the law would be implemented but what would be the exact parameters of hopping would cover.
“I don’t think PH has any qualms about the definition of hopping, but it may come from parties like Bersatu because they are the beneficiaries of all the hopping that is occurring.
“What defines hopping needs to be agreed upon, as well as the definition of independence,” he said.
He illustrated the issues that would arise by using an independent candidate as an example.
“Should they win independently, and join another party after an election, would that be considered party hopping?” he added.
Asked whether DAP would pressure Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to break ties or remain with the MoU, he said that PH was at an advantage when it comes to the MoU because it ties the hands of the Prime Minister and the government from declaring the Parliament to dissolve, at least until it expires.
“I don’t think anyone will force Anwar to end the MoU in relation to the AHL because such delays are not the fault of Anwar or PH.
“In Umno, however, certain groups are pressuring the PM to push for GE15 before the mandate runs out, but luckily Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is reluctant to do so,” he said.
In a Facebook page on April 6, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said the delay was a "massive disappointment" for Malaysians who have been waiting for such an act to be tabled as the people wanted an elected administration.
He had said Umno was the most affected after several MPs had jumped ship after BN lost in GE14.
He further questioned if there is an "enemy within" for causing the delay and said the Cabinet needs to take a firm stand on the matter as there seems to be a lack of assertiveness on the matter.
"I have stated that the present understanding between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob with PH needs to be evaluated as it seems to be weak in tabling and passing the bill," he said.
Due to that, he said it was time for Umno to be firm on the issue to prevent anger with the people.
