KUCHING: The passing of the Anti-Party Hopping Bill is long overdue and marks another milestone in the nation’s parliamentary democracy, says Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) youth chief said the unanimous vote by the 209 MPs present yesterday showed a sign of political maturity and consensus by legislators towards a common goal.
Every MP present voted in favour of the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on Provisions Preventing Members of Parliament from Switching Parties while the remaining 11 were absent.
Snowdan said it was not only fulfilled the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition, but it also meant the first hurdle was cleared and honouring the MoU depicted sincerity on the part of the government.
“The anti-party hopping law is suitable in a multicultural society like Malaysia which tends to lean towards communal politics which in turn provides unhealthy grounds for far too many political parties to mushroom.
“As such, a law like this will be healthy for our national politics and it symbolises that we are moving towards common national interests,” he said on Friday.
The Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) Youth chief said the law would gradually diminish communal politics and stabilise the nation’s political scenario in the long run with the issue of switching political parties being contained.
He said the nation and its people would no longer experience the frequent changing of prime minister as it did thrice in the last three years or so, adding that at the political party level it would stabilise internal tussles.
“It will have a positive impact complementing the implementation of UNDI18 which runs and puts to test almost parallel. For the UNDI18, this enactment is a good ground to emulate and to earn their respect,” he said.
Snowdan added that the biggest harvest that the nation would reap from the passing of the Bill was that it gradually get rid of communal politics and political chauvinism.
“No space is provided for unprincipled and political opportunists to sneak allegiance except to align and serve for the betterment of the nation.
“With the Bill enacted, it will be a reality check on politicians who are loose in their political morale – it will halt politicians from switching allegiance and simultaneously curb the party-hopping menace constitutionally,” he said.
