Which would be more effective in preventing defections?

"Until today, Jelapang, Behrang and Changkat Jering have not provided any concrete reason as to why they decided to leave Pakatan Rakyat that concerns the electorate."

By Deborah Loh, The Nut Graph

WHEN Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong left the DAP to become an independent supporting Barisan Nasional (BN), some of her constituents cried, "We didn't vote for her, we voted for her party!"

That was the mildest of angry sentiments expressed on the night of 5 Feb 2009 at the Perak Menteri Besar's official residence, where people had gathered to rally for the dissolution of the state legislative assembly. Earlier the same day, Sultan Azlan Shah had accepted the new BN government and given MB Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the sack.

Jelapang constituents felt betrayed because Hee deserted the party they supported. But the issue also points to a problem in the law, which prevents elected representatives from testing their act of defecting against the wishes of the people.

There have been renewed calls for an anti-hopping law, but would that really be the solution? Perhaps it's time for a law that promotes responsibility by encouraging reps to get approval for their defections or resignations from the electorate.

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