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Monday, June 17, 2024

I wasn't too happy with 'anti-hopping' law, says Azhar









I wasn't too happy with 'anti-hopping' law, says Azhar

Published: Jun 17, 2024 7:08 PM


Former Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said he was not too happy with how the anti-hopping law was enacted back in 2022.

“It’s not that I disagreed with it but it was more of how it was done. I was the speaker back then so I couldn’t say it back then but now, I can speak.

“In fact, I spoke to several MPs about it behind the scenes, including Wan Junaidi (Tuanku Jaafar), the law minister back then, about my reservations.

“It was because we didn’t consider the dynamics of ‘hopping’ in the situation and there are various dynamics in the Dewan (Rakyat) and outside,” he said.

Azhar said this in a talk show titled “Bersama Wan Saiful” yesterday, which was hosted by Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan.

The amendment to Article 49 of the Federal Constitution, better known as the anti-hopping law, was done on July 28, 2022, and was aimed at discouraging MPs from switching parties.

When the bloc vote was called, 209 voted in favour and none against. There were 11 absentees.


Azhar Azizan Harun


Elaborating on his reservations, Azhar said he had encountered several interesting situations which warrant consideration before enacting the law.

Recalling an incident during the premiership of Muhyiddin Yassin, Azhar said he met a delegation of MPs who said they were not in support of the prime minister but backed the government.

“I didn’t know what to do,” he said.


Staying silent

Azhar added there were also situations where MPs would attend sittings and keep mum, refusing to debate and walking off when they were unhappy with an issue - citing the budget as an example.

“And there was a situation where a backbencher says he doesn’t want to sit with other govt MPs… I faced that one too but I won’t name anyone.

“So, I had to find a seat for that MP… which is not with the government and not even the opposition either.

“Overall, this is the dynamics we face but the question is, can we interpret their conduct as ‘hopping’?” he asked.

As such, Azhar urged lawmakers to consider all the dynamics involved before making any laws, adding that it is the problem now being faced when it comes to the six rogue Bersatu MPs.

“This is the issue we are facing now. We have MPs saying they are loyal to the party but support a person who is not supported by the party.

“We didn’t tackle the dynamics outside and inside (of Dewan Rakyat) and that was why I wasn’t comfortable with the law,” he added.




Six MPs from Bersatu and one of their assemblypersons from Selangor have voiced support for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.



The MPs are Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang), Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang), Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjong Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), and Suhaili Abdul Rahman (Labuan).

The assemblyperson who backs Anwar is Selat Klang’s Abdul Rashid Asari.

On June 12, Bersatu issued termination notices to the six, adding their memberships would be terminated with immediate effect, citing a violation of Article 10.4 of the party constitution.

For Suhaili, Hamzah said the notice of his immediate termination was issued earlier on May 17 for violating Article 10.2.6 of the constitution.


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