A Law To Prevent Defections

(Speech when moving a motion in Parliament on March 21, 1978 to seek leave of the House to introduce a private member’s bill intituled Members of Parliament [Prevention of Defection] Act 1978 to ensure political integrity of Members of Parliament)

I rise under Standing Order 49(2) to move a motion to seek leave of the House to introduce a Private Member’s Bill intituled Members of Parliament (Prevention of Defection) Act, 1978, which would require a Member of Parliament to vacate his seat within 30 days and cause a by-election to be held on his resignation or expulsion from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected.

In November last year, I was invited by a Tamil national daily, Tamil Nesan, to answer question submitted by Tamil Nesan readers. One question that was asked was about the defection of Opposition Members of Parliament and State Assemblymen after their election, in betrayal of the confidence and trust placed on them by the electorate.

I was asked what effective measure could be taken to prevent such opportunistic political betrayal of the people’s confidence. I replied that the most effective way would be for the enactment of a law requiring a Member of Parliament to vacate his seat and cause a by-election to be held on his resignation or expulsion from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected. I promised to move a private member’s bill on his matter considering its importance.

Such a Bill is important so as to ensure the political integrity of elected MPs and to prevent political corruption.

Nothing disgusts the Malaysian public more than to see MPs or State Assemblymen elected on one party’s ticket and then betray the Party and the people’s trust by switching parties. This makes them very little different from con-men. Such practices debase politics, and strengthen the general impression that ‘politics is dirty’, when it is the dirty people who get into politics to make politics dirty.

The defection of MPs or State Assemblymen from parties on whose ticket they got elected is most undesirable and unethical, because they are elected not because of their personal qualities, but because of the Party they represent. Such practices also permit elected politicians to be bought and sold as if they are on the market place.

If an elected MP resigns or is expelled from the Party on whose ticket he was originally elected, then he should resign his seat and cause a by-election to be held. If the resignation and expulsion is over a matter of political principle which has the support of the people, then the MP or State Assemblymen concerned should have no qualms about getting re-elected.

We all know that Barisan Nasional parties require its candidates to sign undated letters of resignations to keep their elected MPs or State Assemblymen in line. Just before the Kelantan state general elections last month, the Kelantan UMNO State Liaison Chairman, Tengku Razaleigh, felt it necessary to declare publicly that UMNO Kelantan has taken steps to prevent UMNO candidates from betraying the party after they are elected. He said every UMNO candidate is required to sign undated letters of resignation to be kept in custody by UMNO, which it would use in the event of betrayal.

Of course, under normal circumstances, the Government party can keep its MPs in control through its wide paraphernalia of patronage, influence and largesse. This, however, tantamounts to another form of political corruption.

A law which I am proposing will uphold political integrity of MPs and be a serious deterrent to political corruption. Those who wish to see a cleaner political atmosphere should give it support.

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62 Replies to “A Law To Prevent Defections”

  1. This law should have been implemented long time ago.
    And who are the one ignoring that? We ALL Know.

    And now, they are so scared that their MPs will join
    another party, and they now only start to talk about that.

    We ALL see their real faces… and even more people
    will NOT vote for them anymore in the next election!
    I can see now…

  2. The flip side of such a law is to deny MPs the freedom to choose when they know that their party has lost their ideals or for a dozen other valid reasons such as when their party has prostituted itself for vested gains rather than guarding the fundamental rights of the people.

    Such a law presumes that political defections are akin to political prostitution. This is not necessarily true!

    So, let’s think a little more before making legilslative proposals that have far-reaching ramifications.

  3. Umno is using the Arabs’ war strategy: the moment they sense that they are losing the fight against the Israelis, they immediately appeal for a ceasefire. Remember what happened what Pairin Kitigan asked for a law to prevent his PBS assemblymen from lompat katak?

  4. Now that BN is getting the other end of the stick, they are worried till death and talk about morality and ethics and also to come out with a law to prevent defection. Tell me since when they are ethical and have moral. BN was the party that enjoyed most on this party hopping business as they have all the money-power and carrots dangling than the other parties. Most of us can remember what happened in Sabah, Kelantan and N. Sembilan where DAP was the victim and MCA was enjoying it and BN was singing a different tune then. Now that the fire is at their doorstep, which I think is Anwar’s strategy to make them eat their own shit, they have to make a complete “U” turn. I think the rakyat did a wonderful job. What the opposition could not do for the past 20-30 years the people had done it within weeks and this shows they are only a bunch of double face cowards.

  5. In my opinion, it is good to have a law to prevent defections. Betrayal to the party after being elected should not be encouraged. We all know why BN suggested this law now…they are sinking….worried sick…fear of losing power.

    Anyway, DAP and other opposition parties like PKR and PAS should support this law for we know come the next GE, BN will fall flat. I think BR is not ready to rule the whole country now and the next few years is a good period to get things done and prove to the rakyat that BR is the right choice.

    With the few years of experience running the 5 states held by BR, come the next GE, BN will fall for sure and BR is ever ready to rule the country to make life better for all Malaysian irrespective of race and religion.

  6. Zaid’s proposed anti hopping law is not a principled proposal intending to contain unethical behaviour among elected representatives. I think everybody knows it. We should let the current impasse takes its course first before we consider a comprehensive anti hopping legislation. We must capitalise on the current momentum and let change take its course in a shortest possible time. The government both at Federal and in some states are already in limbo. Let’s finish the transformation quickly and move on.

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  8. The anti hopping law does not in any way deny the MP the freedom of choice. Basically if the MP wants to switch party he/she can do so. The main thing the law should do is require a by-election if the MP decides to switch parties.

    Of course we all know the REAL reason why BN is asking for such a law now. But if the opposition really believes that the people support them, then the opposition should have no fear in supporting such a law because if the people really wants change then they will vote for the opposition in the by-elections.

    No need to argue about what the voters really want. Just have by elections and let the voters decide for themselves what they want.

    But first things first. Clean up the Election Commission.

  9. At that time BN was the propagator and instigator so they will not support your proposal Kit.

    But now, they realize that they are at the receiving end and hence the need to have such law to prevent potential MPs become frogs.

    Whatever it is, it is unethical for an MP to betray the trust given by the people who have voted them in. This people ought to be condemned to the core.

  10. I am glad that somebody is talking about good laws which all these while is deflated by UMNO if it is not good for them. Good laws can only come from good governance and good governance can only come from a government that is has good moral fiber and ethics which UMNO is grossly lacking.
    Why is nobody talking about amending the local authorities act to allow for local elections? Hope our Zaid Ibrahim can think about this and put forward a proposal on this?? What about an “integrity act” to prevent corruption or at least an independent body likes the H.Kong ICAC and Spore CPIB. All these should be good for the rakyat and hope Zaid will also look into this, not when the “fire” is at UMNO’s doorstep then only they want to come out with a law to fight the fire.
    The fact that UMNO refused to sign the International Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Act is a testimony that UMNO is a two faced devil. What is only good for them is good law and anything how good for the people but bad for them is bad law.

  11. Uncle Lim, you have my support. The basis of this law is that a voter does not necessary choose a candidate over his party. For all we know, a voter may choose the party over the candidate, as has been amply demonstrated in the March 8 elections, where certain political lightweights beat heavyweights because people would vote for almost anyone from the Opposition.

    The interesting question however, is how this will reconcile with what Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is trying to do – getting BN to defect. Is he agreeable to by-elections? What would be the chances of the Opposition taking government if it’s going to be this messy? This is a point that must be sorted out within the Opposition camp least it blows up as another controversial issue that robs people’s confidence of the Opposition cohesiveness.

  12. ENDANGERED HORNBILL Says:
    Today at 11: 54.42 (2 hours ago)

    ==================================================

    Dear Endangered Hornbill,
    It is correct that not all politicians jump ship or leave a party due to “political prostitution”… and hence Uncle LKS suggested for a re-election…. which means… you can choose to leave the party and stand for a by-election…

    if people are voting because of your quality, you will be reinstalled into the federal house or state assembly under another party’s ticket or as an independent candidate…

    I would say such measure is essentially fair and square… :) and after all… if people voted a YES to you… that’s gonna be interpreted as… the people endorse you for what you did… :)

  13. No need to praise Zaid sky high. What he said while out of government is of no consequence. From now on, judge what he says and does while holding the minister post. Trust me, they will be very different.

  14. I might not be a lawyer but I will not agree with Wong Ho Leng of DAP on his contention that the anti hopping law cannot be enacted. Laws are made by the people through their representatives they had elected as MPs. Tell me what is in the constitution that cannot be amended if it is good for the people and the country. It is the BN with their previous huge majority that has made or amended or refuse to amend the constitutional law in order to serve their interests and objectives only. We all know BN had amended 600 over times since Independence the constitution many of which are as I had said before is only to serve their own interests. Sabah is affected by the constitution at that time because UMNO is enjoying that part of the constitution. So let us not miss this chance now as it might not come back again. Enact the law at the earliest possible.

    To me party hopping is definitely a game only for those with no moral and loose ethic, people who are inspired by self fulfillment and self interests only. Party hopping is definitely not for the benefit of the rakyat as we do not want to see our MPs or ADUN behaving like grasshoppers.

  15. imkamput Says:
    Today at 14: 20.38 (13 minutes ago)

    I am agreeing fully with you on this. I had mentioned the same and maybe a bit more in detail a few days ago in this same blog regarding the same subject matter.

  16. what are the possibilities of an MP quitting the specific party..become independent.. then join another party?

    or perhaps there should be a timeline preventing them from joining other party..?

  17. When PBS was the state government, UMNO through various ways and means, had engineered the fall of the government and the most effective was the infamous cross over of PBS’s elected assemblymen, led by Lajim Ukin, to UMNO.

    PBS had enacted a bill in the state legislative assembly stating that any elected assemblyman who resigned from his party and cross over to another political party would automatically vacate his seat for a By-election. This was conveniently overturned by the BN government through their famous, “freedom of association decision by the Court”.

    Now, BN, and most of all UMNO, are figuratively sweating in their pants as strong indications are that a large number of their Members of Parliament would be resigning to join the opposition front for the creation of a new government in our country.

    http://www.malaysia-today.net/2008/content/view/4880/84/

  18. When UMNO took over Sabah because of PBS assembly men hopping to their side, it was okay, now the tables are turned they want to enact a law to prevent it. What a bunch of hypocrites.
    It is a good law but I say opposition parties should not support this law now. Let BN lose its gov. then when opposition form the gov. only then should good laws be implement like anti-hoping and judicial freedom.
    DAP please learn how to play the Politics .
    UMNO has not played fair – phantom voters, the lost of Sabah by jumping assemblymen, redrawing of the election border, cutting of state funds for opposition held states, EC in their hand.
    Please see that you can’t win the election without beating them at their own game.
    How can you guaranty a fair re-election with EC and phantom voters. Remember Khairy gained a lead of 5,746 votes after the second recount. Do you really think UMNO is just going to let the re-election be fair.

  19. As a refreshment on what I had agreed with limkamput, this is what I had said a few days ago in his blog.

    Looks like there are plenty of euphoria especially from the legal fraternity after the appointment of Zaid Ibrahim as Minister in charge of legal and judicial reforms. Honestly I would like to put a brake on all these euphoria and ecstasy. Only time can tell as I am not sure whether he is put there to reform or to be reformed. Judging from precedents, in UMNO more often than not those who enter the “kandang” get reformed rather than making reforms. The crack of the whip will make them shiver and loose their bearing. I have seen many of his predecessors, who sounded so promising but eventually became a lamb and just followed the flock. If anybody can remember, Shahidan was one of them, outspoken when he was an ordinary MP, especially as a chairman of the backbenchers club. So is Shahrir but got reformed in the “one eye Jack” case. I really respected him (Shahrir) at one time and thought that he can deliver some changes for the betterment of the rakyat, but I am not so correct. His statement that he refused a minister post sometime ago does not really convince me now judging from his euphoria and statements made after he was offered a Minister post. Normally a person who has the conviction to decline but later changed his/her mind to accept does not behave that way, especially he only made that statement less than 2 yrs ago.

    So let’s keep that euphoria under wrap first until we really see the transformation with our own eyes. Do not just get caught up on what he does or say outside. To be honest I had profound respect for Zaid Ibrahim and will continue with my respect until proven wrong. To this I hope he will lend credibility by making all the necessary arrangements so that there will be no conflict of interests with his Legal firm.

    Till then I wish him all the best in his appointment as a Minister and hope that he will fulfill what the people and the country desire most, a sound and fair judiciary system which is a must for any democratic country to move forward and to be well respected internationally.

  20. Becoming the federal government may be within the grasp of the BR coalition, things must be very tempting. DAP must be commended for distancing itself from the recent attempts to lure the East BN representatives to cross over.

    Lim Kit Siang compares such act as another form of political corruption. DAP, seems to be well aware it has to act responsibly and it has to display integrity at all time!

  21. Easier said than done ! The law was there all the time, but the government choose to ignore it. So they break the law and got away with it! Now all those bills passed by parliament must be considered null and void, because it was voted by lawbreakers! And those MPs who crossed over ( just like illegal immigrants ) better be prepared to pay back all their incomes and allowances to the people of Malaysia!!!

  22. Such a bill should be supported. Politicians in this country are still quite immature when it comes to loyalty to party and to the voters who voted for them. They won’t hesitate for a moment to jump ship perticularly when money is dangled in front of them.

    However under the present circumstances, I don’t have any sympahty for the BN if any of their elected reps cross over to the BR provided they do it for conviction and not monetary reward or position. I say this because BN was the one who invented party hopping when it suited them. Now they are the ones crying foul when the ball is in the other court. It’s so typical of their “loser’s mentality” and double standard.

  23. What’s to stop BN from recalling this law once it gets back the 2/3 majority on the next election. DAP better think hard before supporting this law. This could break BR if DAP decide to take its own path,
    I for one would like to see Anwar take away the majority from BN

  24. “………anti-defection bill – to make MPs who leave their parties immediately leave the House – is pernicious, anti- democratic, self-serving and totally unnecessary We, the people, should decide who stays and who goes and not authoritarian party apparatchiks.

    Very few countries in the world have such a nasty piece of law. Those countries which do have this provision either have short democratic traditions, such as Bolivia and South Africa, or have a reputation for repressive regimes, such as Zambia. India introduced the provision to combat rampantly corrupt behaviour that threatened the very fabric of its system.”

    There can be no doubt that Malaysia is in the same category as India.

    http://www.geocities.com/ubinz/press/1999C14HeraldTemplePartyHop.html

  25. UMNO leader & member each of them are burying themselves from the Rakyat. If can push, push, if can hide, hide, if can condemn, condemn, if can lie, lie, if can robe, robe, if can accuse, accuse, if can fingerpoint, fingerpoint, if can boycott, boycott, if can bribe, bribe, if can stay another term, stay, if can lie thru media, press just do it, if can defy sultan, defy it, if can change the law, change it, if can apologize, go ahead do it.

    The UMNO leader is not leading the party it is boycotting the royal family, boycotting the opposition government, it is doing all kind of drama to entice Rakyat to hate them more.

  26. IT’s a great law to uphold,…..but, coming from the horses mouth at this particular time,…..leaves a bitter taste for me to saw I support it. If they have proposed it before election, it would have been nice.

    The proposal and the ideals and sincerity behind it have somehow turn sour.

    And while I agree with by- elections, the Opposition must know we are facing a juggernaut of manpower, money and under arm tactics.

    I was in Perlis witnessing the Indera Kayagan by- elections, where BN sent its entire contigent there from MIC, MCA and UMNO. They had practically a person to tend to each individual voters there, to take care of their needs and demands.

    The 100,000k cap on election campaigns do not adhere to them.

    If the opposition was to agree to this law as the BN now still need additional support to get the 2/3 it requires to pass….please be smart to negotiate your vote. You must get something back in return (not personally though- that would be corruption). Maybe as for a bill of no election news for by election by Main Stream Media, or a bill that requires canditate to engage in a public open debate, ask for something that will benefit the BR too.

  27. It is interesting that you quoted your support of a Private Member’s Bill titled Members of Parliament (Prevention of Defection) Act, 1978, when moving a motion in Parliament on March 21, 1978.

    Well March 21, 1978 is not March 24th 2008, and you have left it to inference that your view 30 years later – under very changed circumstances of the Opposition taking the offensive in party hopping- is still the same without expressly acknowledging so. Is it however the same???

    At this moment I won’t say much on the merits and demerits of this Anti Hopping legislation, which I have commented quite a bit in earlier thread – until I found out the complexities of this issue from various links posted by LadyGodiva!

    The interesting part is how does one juggle with the following variables: –

    1. DSAI is the one who first brought up this issue of him being approached by several lawmakers in the ruling coalition (in East Malaysia) wanting to defect to his camp; Anwar however did make clear that they were welcome to defect but no bribes would be paid to make them to cross over. His position – and I assume PKR’s position – is that there is nothing wrong in defections per se; he even welcomes them.

    2. If arrangements or whatever horse trading involved were afoot between DSAI and certain law makers, they would have to occur after April 15th when DSAI could be eligible to re-enter politics, contest in by-elections to be an mp and take over as Opposition leader: only then it will have the official standing to formalize arrangements with defecting law makers if any.

    3. Now one or two defections are no big deal so as far as DSAI is concerned, it has to be en masse and even defection of entire party from BN to make up the gap of 30 seats yawning between BN and BR that will topple the BN now.

    4. If by reason of cross over, BN loses simple parliamentary majority of 50% plus one seat to BR, it means that technically the PM can be dismissed and his government could fall. This is because Article 43(3) of the Constitution provides “If the Prime Minister ceases to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the House of Representatives, then, unless at his request, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament, the Prime Minister shall tender the resignation of the Cabinet”. What happens then??? Well after all the brouhaha over Terengganu’s MB His Majesty may just perform his constitutional duty to direct the BR to form a caretaker government in the wake of another dissolution of parliament to pave way for another general election to determine which coalition commands clear majority of the Dewan Rakyat! Is that the scenario that BR component parties desire ???

    5. The part that is intriguing is if DSAI harbours such intentions why prematurely broadcast to the press, international and local that he had been approached by potential defectors??? By so doing he is only creating conditions for leaders with BR like LKS of DAP or Nik Aziz of PAS to take earlier position supporting Zaid Ibrahim’s proposal of an Anti Hopping laws against crossovers, which of course makes whatever intended in 5 above to be undertaken by BR’s component parties by way of united front more difficult!

    6. Yet one needs a united front on BR’s part for the Anti Hopping bill to be introduced by Zaid to be resisted. This is because of the 1992 case of Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan v Nordin Salleh which says crossovers are Ok and to stop them is to contravene Constitutional right to freedom of association. Now in order for Anti Hopping law not to infringe the constitution, there must be a constitutional amendment of the Freedom of Association requiring 2/3 majority of the Dewan Rakyat, which BN presently does not have, and would require BR’s MPs to make up the shortfall.

    7. So what is DSAI’s plan and equation here in bringing out this topic publicly so early before 15th April and by so doing forces BR’s leaders to take counter productive positions against crossovers??? Can anyone throw some light on this conundrum???

  28. Since Opposition wants the anti hopping law and UMNO needs it, let them sweat. Take your time. After all, opposition will still be the winner if the law is not passed.

    Demand electoral reforms and the clean up of the Election Commission as conditions before agreeing to the anti-hop law.

    It’d be silly to approve the anti hop law without doing something first about the election processes in the country.

  29. Oh Ya Sir,
    It good that you bring up again and hope to see more about the pass that you and your party debate in parliament throughout this 30 over years. This could serve:-

    1. Refresh the people of Malaysians (veteran) mind.
    2. Give a change to the younger generation to know more about yourself and your stand in parliament.

  30. Dear Jeffery,

    Didn’t I tell you something about Anwar’s strategy. He must have considered every aspects before he made his bold and loud announcements of the impending cross-overs, which I think is a ploy. (the little bird is telling that it is easier for BN to get 8 MPs from the opposite camp rather than the opposition getting 30 MPS from them). His job is to create a ear shattering false alarm which will make the BN press the panic button and will nicely fall into DSAI’s plan of making defection illegal. Under normal circumstances, nobody will be able to enact such law as it has only benefited them (BN) all these while. I am sure the opposition will wholeheartedly support the anti- hopping law if it is proposed.

    By doing this is to get ready for their 4-5 years plan of capturing the federal government which DSAI himself will expect only a small majority, say 5-8 seats. This law is there to protect themselves of running the government without fear of defection which the BN is experiencing now though they have 30 MPs. What more if BR can win by only a handful of say 5-8 seats majority in the next GE. Don’t you think they will be more shaky. Well I think this is long term plan by DSAI.

    Politics is like a game of chess. If you can read 3-4 steps ahead of your opponent who can only see your next step, you will have a very much better chance of winning. We have a PM who cannot even see half your step and that is why DSAI has rated his chance of winning in the next GE but with a slim majority.

    I think the chances of my theory getting right is about 65%, taking into account of DSAI’s acumen on strategy. Well we do not have to wait to too long to know.

  31. I like the word “INTEGRITY” here….

    But I doubt the ‘SINCERITY” of proposing this law by BN at this moment! The BN is trying protect their skin here.

    For the past 50 years, when did they give the OPPOSITION party a FAIR PLAY? THEY PLAY DIRTY! USE EVERY TRICKS AT THEIR DISPOSABLE TO GET RID OF OPPOSITION IN EVERY ELECTION, THEY EVEN SEND YOU TO “LOCK-UP” REMEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    THIS IS A GOOD LAW, BUT NOT AT THE MOMENT! WAIT AND LET THEM BLEED AND SUFFER FOR THE TIME BEING!

  32. Thanks for the interesting angle, pwcheng. It assumes DSAI is a longer term strategist who can wait 4-5 years and further assumes during which time the BN cannot re-invent and reclaim popularity and will fall in the next GE.

    It further assumes what PKR’s Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohamad Akin said at a press conference today, as reported by Malaysiakini, is a red herring and sandiwara. Sahamsul said that “we have up to 15 to 16 MPs from BN, including Umno MPs, who want to join PKR.” Shamsul denied that PKR was offering money to buy over the parliamentarians. Far from encouraging them to defect, he said that the MPs had voluntarily held talks with PKR to discuss crossing over.“We want to relay this message to any BN member of parliament (or state assemblyperson) harbouring hope (for change) and wishing to participate in this new hope for Malaysia: ‘Don’t worry. Be steely in your resolve’, Shamsul said. he claimed that party-hopping was part and parcel of the democratic process…Shamsul confirmed that most of the MPs planning to hop over were from Sabah and Sarawak.

    “They have come and met (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim because they have lost faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. They are not crossing over for monetary gains,” he said.

  33. I supported the Anti-hopping Law.

    The time factor is important here. There will be sometime between the moving of the motion, passing the motion & gazetting it as law. BN has played dirty for 50 years. Let Anwar gives them this headache for once & let the BN MPs make the final decisions to make the jump before the ship left forever (provided no 2/3 majority to BN or BR in future).

  34. Well Jeffery Politics is intriguing, but sometimes with a little bit of spice to make it nice. Too much of arguments and hammering other bloggers are a little bit boring.

    I think we must know how to hammer the right thing for the right noise, then they will know how powerful are bloggers.

  35. I have watched some videos of DSAI campaign speech for his PKR party in the recent election and cannot help wondering why this guy is not the PM of Malaysia yet. The guy appeal to the masses across all racial divides, really knows what is happening, internationally quite well known and possibly respected especially now, extremely charismatic, been a Malay supremacist before supposedly awaken now, been a deputy prime minister and finance minister before, been to jail and out, been walloped by the Police before, being through the monkey courts of Malaysia, instrumental in uniting the opposition and simply sways anybody who happens to listen to him TALK. He had a large following before his fallout with the Mahathir dictator and it would be unwise to think that such followings have simply disappear in the thin air. I would rather that all this is coming back to him as he is well on track to become the next PM of Malaysia again. One cannot really know how much of networking he has established with his long tenure in office. The only thing that can stop him now is himself. If he does not screw it all up by becoming racist again he may even be up there before the next election. Mass defection to his PKR camp is not really so much of an impossibility considering this. I therefore do not think pwcheng argument that DSAI is really planning for the next election to be PM and have the anti-hopping law nicely in place for him to secure his position. He is possibly thinking of how to be PM before that. Watch this video and decide for yourself.

    http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-8665011592312376468&hl=en

  36. Well we should look at our neighbour’s up north Thailand.Go and check out their new constitution on the part for party hopping.Previously many elected candidates from previous election jump to another party like nobody business which gave good offer but now the elected representatives were to hop after getting elected then he or she will be made mandatory to resign from the post and a by election will be called.Go through the Thailand new constitution..it is interesting should one be interested.

  37. he looks like me, sounds like me
    but is fat and ugly, he is not me.

    it looks constitutional, it sounds constitutional
    but because the MB is not Idris, it is NOT constitutional

    it looks like it a good team, it sounds like a good team
    but Bodowi included Mud Tahi, Najis and Kerishamuddin,
    it’s a CRAPBINET

    he looks awake, he sounds intelligent
    but when he opens the back-door for discarded
    garbage, Bodowi is still ASLEEP!

    it looked like a crime, it sounded like a crime
    but Mud Tahi could not read Aussie (or England, American & Kiwi),
    so today he is Zaid’s colleague. God save ‘Rural.’

    he looks intelligent, he sounds educated
    but Kerishamuddin is a racist, militant and waves the keris to threaten non-Malays, he has gotta be utterly STUPID!

    What a CRABINET! God save Malaysia!

  38. Who would mind to sacrifice his or her reputation by turning into a frog for sake of democracy and a new dawn for Malaysian? The problem is it might waste taxpayer funds as re-election might occur. If the Federal Govt. has 2/3 majority then it will be different story, now with simple majority, these frogs should behave like guardian of democracy, if the simple majority govt. repeat the mistakes again, these frogs should do what is right to topple them. Frogs can also become hero why not?

  39. Cases of BN reps hopping into the opposition is extremely rare. Almost all the katak cases were non-BN joining the BN gravy train. So why are they so agitated about the prospects of their own joining the other side? A taste of their own medicine.

  40. Suddenly it is suggested to have law to curb MPs to “jump ship” when BN is under threat! BN has been all along happily welcoming opposition to join them a tinge of guilt. All this only shows how irresponsible and unethical of our “leaders”.

    There are two sides of a coin. The question is whether the elected MP pays allegiance to the people or his party. He has got to make a wise decision: to leave the party whose leadership has already totally lost direction (who bring more harm to the nation) to continue serving the people.

  41. Change is inevitable. Malaysians have evolved to become more informed of their rights. March 8 saw Malaysians rose up. It was a pity that the wind of change had not swept to East Malaysia. Otherwise, history would have been rewritten.

    What is so wrong if MPs switched camp, if it comes to their realisation that they were misled by their party. It is important that their conscience is right. They are not bribed to do so. Ok, if switching is immoral and irresponsible, then just make way for a re-election. See what the people want this time around. This, I feel, is more pressingly important instead of continue living under uncertainty.

  42. The US sub-prime crisis in graphics – Part 1 & 2
    The US sub-prime mortgage crisis has lead to plunging property prices, a slowdown in the US economy, and billions in losses by banks. It stems from a fundamental change in the way mortgages are funded. There seems to be no end to this and with the collapse of the investment banking giant Bear Stearn last week, it is believed more is to come.

    It is inevitable the there is going to be a global economic crisis unlike the 1997 crash which started in the stock market, this has started in the core of the economy – Housing. In no time it will see our shores and our new cabinet has to be ready to face it. This two part article is to give us Malaysians a better understanding of this crisis preempt our government.

    How it went wrong!

    visit http://www.wagthedog-malaysia.blogspot.com

  43. Now the FROG PRINCE is calling for the extermination of all frogs:
    NST on line:
    PUTRAJAYA: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) supports the proposal to ban party-hopping as the practice caused political instability.

  44. Political instability is caused by cronies, a sleeping PM, and an end product of Oxford (Khairy).

    The Frogs are just there bidding their time with their eye open bidding for the right time to jump.

    They will join the rakyat to slap those cronies, Khairy, and to awake the sleeping beauty PM.

    It’s funny to see the sleeping beauty PM rudely awaken got slapped in his face then suddenly lost 5 states, lost the power to appoint MB in Perlis and Terengganu, and thankfully still have a new wife to enjoy.

  45. Lakilompat: Maybe it is Oxford Tuition Center (UK = Ulu Klang) lah.

    If any party members were sacked, don’t see why they can’t join the parties of their choice since they will have automatically become an independent. I think the basics here should be ‘freedom-of choice’.

  46. LadyGodiva Says: Yesterday at 19: 50.31
    “Anti-hopping law – constitutional or unconstitutional? What is clear is that you cannot keep the cake and eat it at the same time.”

    You think you so smart. Keep half and eat half lah, that is your expertise.

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