THERE is no need to rush the tabling of the anti-party hopping Bill as further scrutiny and understanding of the Bill is needed, said PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang.
“The Bill needs to be scrutinised. There is no need to hurry. [PAS] is not in a hurry regarding this matter,” he was quoted as saying by PAS mouthpiece Harakah Daily.
The Marang MP was responding to the news that the Government has postponed the Federal Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill on anti-party hopping.
The Bill was supposed to be tabled on Monday (April 11) but Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was reported as saying by English daily The Star that they needed more time to deliberate the definition of the term “party-hopping”.
According to Hadi, the issue of party-hopping is not new for PAS as the Islamic party has been dealing with the matter since 1959 in Kelantan and Terengganu.
He added that PAS addresses the issue with the bai’ah (oath of allegiance) and as such, any elected representatives who switch political allegiances must resign.
“Our government fell due to party-hopping in Terengganu in 1960 so this is nothing new to us. We have been dealing with this matter for a long time and this is why PAS mentioned in its oath that any elected representative of the party who jumps parties must resign,” he remarked.
“If you don’t resign, God will curse you – that is in the bai’ah.”
On March 27, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan had similarly said that the anti-party hopping Bill needs further study to prevent arising issues in the future.
He also said that this is because the term “party hopping” itself is still unclear, including several issues that need further discussion.
“The issue here is whether Independent Members of Parliament or state assemblymen are considered party members? For example, if they want to join other parties, is that considered party hopping?” he asked. – April 8, 2022
