I REFER to the report “Anti-hopping law proposed “ (Sunday Star, March 23).

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s plan to introduce a law banning party-hopping by elected representatives is an encouraging move.

Of late, there has been considerable interest on this issue of party-hopping of MPs and assemblymen. MPs and assemblymen crossing over to new parties, although unhealthy, is nothing new in Malaysian politics.

In Malaysia , MPs and state assemblymen are voted based mainly on the party to which they belong and less so on their individual qualities and merits.

Crossing over to another party after being elected as a representative is morally wrong. It amounts to cheating the voters.

It only goes to show a lack of integrity and credibility on the part of the defector. Even worse is the buying-over of defectors from other parties. Such money politics is an act of corruption that must be condemned.

It is timely to introduce a law to declare a seat vacant and call for fresh elections once its MP or state assemblyman crosses over to another political party.

MPs and state assemblymen are lawmakers who represent the people’s interests in the highest legislative body, Parliament.

Dr CHRIS ANTHONY,
Butterworth.

Source: The Star – March 25, 2008