‘Amend constitution to stop party-hopping’
DAP chairman Karpal Singh says if a bill is tabled, the BN government will get the full backing of Pakatan Rakyat.
(Free Malaysia Today) – The DAP today called on the Najib administration to amend the Federal Constitution to ban party hopping by elected representatives.
Its chairman Karpal Singh said Barisan Nasional government should table an emergency parliamentary bill soon to amend the constitution.
“It should be done before the next general election,” Karpal told newsmen during his weekly Bukit Gelugor parliamentary constituency visit here today.
He said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak can count on the Pakatan Rakyat support for the amendment.
He said Najib should not be worried about not securing a two-thirds majority needed to make a constitutional amendment.
He said the Pakatan MPs would surely back Najib’s administration on the amendment, which would eventually flush out selfish politicians.
The amendment will have to done on Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which allows citizens freedom of association.
Many elected representatives are pointing to the article to justify their defections over the years.
Karpal, a lawyer by profession, indicated that only a constitutional amendment can once and for all put an end to party hopping by elected representatives.
The amendment would pave way for the parliament and state governments to legislate anti-hopping laws.
Karpal was referring to a Gerakan suggestion to ban party hopping made during a public hearing by the Parliamentary Select Committee on electoral reforms here yesterday.
The hearing was chaired by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Maximus Ongkili.
