KUALA LUMPUR: Despite calls by certain quarters for the anti-party hopping law to be reviewed, an analyst believes that there is no need for it.
Instead, Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said the political parties must control their members, in this case, their members of parliament, to align with the party's vision at all times.
"I don't think the anti-party hopping law should be reviewed (and subsequently amended following what happened recently). I don't see the need for us to go to that extent.
"What should be done now at the party level is for the party to control their MPs and ensure they adhere to the party and its vision," he said when contacted.
Azmi was commenting on calls made by certain quarters for the law to be reviewed.
On Thursday, Bersatu proposed that the anti-hopping law be reviewed.
Citing the four Bersatu MPs from Sabah who quit the party yet kept their seats, as well as another four MPs who pledged their support for the unity government, Bersatu president and Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said there were flaws in the anti-hopping law.
Yesterday, Parti Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal made the same call, saying there were loopholes in the law that need to be refined.
Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli also said that the law must be strengthened to prevent elected representatives from exploiting its loopholes to switch their support to an opposing political coalition.
He said a clause which bars any member of parliament from expressing their support to an opposing political coalition should be added.
On Oct 12, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid expressed his support for Anwar, followed by Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman.
Over the past two days, two more Bersatu lawmakers, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik, also pledged their support to Anwar.
Meanwhile, in a Facebook post, Pakatan Harapan (PH) secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said it was the PN who rejected moves to introduce a more stringent anti-hopping law.
Saifuddin said PH's position back then was that the MPs who acted against the party's whip in Dewan Rakyat in matters such as budget votes, motions of no confidence and bills that affect the government's position would be considered losing their seats. Hence, a by-election must be held.
Saifuddin said the same goes with MPs who were sacked from their party for disciplinary issues or violating the party's constitution; they would be considered as having vacated their seats.
"I was part of the parliamentary select committee when the bill was being drafted, along with Gobind (Singh) Deo and (Mohamed) Hanipa Maidin, representing PH.
"PN was represented by (Datuk Seri) Hamzah (Zainudin) and (Datuk Seri) Takiyuddin (Hassan). However, PN disagreed with those suggestions."
Saifuddin said the committee, chaired by Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, said that only proposals that get the consensus of all parties would be included.
Saifuddin further said that the move by opposition MPs to pledge support to the prime minister would not cause them to lose their seats.
"In what situation are the MPs considered losing their seats? When the MPs join another party or declare themselves as Independent."