Law minister lists three criteria for anti-hopping law

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Bersih submits 8 proposals on anti-hopping law to Parliament

PETALING JAYA: Electoral reform group Bersih has given eight recommendations to the parliamentary select committee (PSC) drafting the anti-hopping law.

In a written submission, Bersih said it had proposed that constituents be given the power to decide whether the elected representative should be asked to vacate the seat for the following reasons:

• defecting to another party;
  
• resigns or is sacked from his party;
  
• convicted for non-compoundable offences;
  
• convicted for compoundable offences and sentenced to be imprisoned, and the appeal period expires without the conviction being overturned on appeal, notwithstanding having received a free pardon, except for offences under the Sedition Act 1948, the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012; and,
  
• being absent for 50% of the legislative assembly/parliamentary sitting days in a period of six months, notwithstanding being granted leave of absence.
  

Bersih held that the recall mechanism to remove an elected representative was “the best remedy” to solve the problem of party hopping.

It said this would make elected representatives more accountable and allow the party system to stabilise.

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