Guan Eng: Re-contest seats if anti-party hopping law is introduced
(Bernama) BUTTERWORTH, Jan 28 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng wants the government to set a condition that provides for any elected representative who party hops to re-contest the seat in a by-election if the proposed anti-party hopping law is implemented.
Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister, said the condition was aimed at enabling the elected representative who defected to keep the post but on a new party ticket.
“If they (Barisan Nasional) dare to formulate an anti-party hopping law, they must set that condition. No need (for the elected representatives who defected) to wait for five years to stand for re-election.
“An elected representative who party hops must let go all his posts in his old party and a by-election held after that,” he told reporters at a Chinese New Year open house at Dewan Datuk Ahmad Badawi, here, today.
He was commenting on the proposal by several Umno leaders for the introduction of an anti-party hopping law to ensure a more moral political practice in Malaysia.
Lim also criticised the stand of BN leaders regarding its elected representatives who crossed over to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as unprincipled individuals.
“To them, it’s okay for PR elected reps to join BN but if it’s the other way round, they are labelled unprincipled. If they (BN) are really principled, why don’t they introduce an anti-party hopping law to prevent defections?” he said. — Bernama
