KUALA LUMPUR: A Sabah member of Parliament has urged the government to amend the anti-hopping law, contending that the current legislation is ineffective in serving its intended purpose.
Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (PN – Beluran) said the initial objective behind the enactment of the anti-hopping bill was to prevent MPs from switching parties.
However, with many representatives currently shifting their allegiance as they like, it appears that the law has not fulfilled its intended purpose, he added.
“Until today, there are still party defectors. Four from Sabah and six from Bersatu used the loopholes in the law to switch sides.
“Has the intention and purpose of Article 49A been fulfilled? Is the government not going to address or take action, considering that the anti-hopping law’s objectives are not being realised?
“There is a significant loophole that the government must address,” he said during today’s debate in Parliament on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s royal address.
Kiandee was referring to the six Bersatu MPs who had recently pledged their support for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister.
The MPs are Datuk Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tg Karang), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman.
“If the act is proven to have failed, and if the government has no intention to amend it, wouldn’t it be better to abolish it?
“I hope the government recognises that the anti-hopping act has failed to be effective. Either we amend it or abolish the act,” he said.
