'Focus on strengthening Anti-Party Hopping Act rather than new law'

SHAH ALAM - There is no need for the government to create a new act to prevent attempts to change the government before the end of the administration term, as the Anti-Party Hopping Act has already been formulated in 2022.

Instead, Bersatu Supreme Council member Datuk Rosol Wahid believed that the government should improve the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 related to the prohibition of MPs switching parties or the Anti-Party Hopping Act, which was known to have several shortcomings.

He said that the introduction of the Anti-Party Hopping Act was sufficient to ensure that efforts to change the government outside of elections can be prevented, provided that any loopholes in the act, including actions by an MP changing support in the Dewan Rakyat without leaving the party, can be rectified.

"It is better for us to address the weaknesses of the existing Anti-Party Hopping Act rather than drafting a new law.

"I believe such a step might give rise to various new problems, including the perception of an anti-democracy government and practicing an iron-fisted rule," he told Sinar.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Umno president, urged the drafting of a bill to ensure the completion of a full five-year term by any government.

He stressed the need to prevent political instability and any efforts to overthrow a sitting government before its mandated term concludes.

Zahid referred to the challenging period of multiple leadership changes during the 14th Parliamentary term, describing it as detrimental to the nation, causing hardship to the people and the economy.

While government parliamentarians supported the proposal, Pas secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan labeled it a desperate attempt to cling to power.