PETALING JAYA: Voters should be given the right to determine the fate of legislators without jeopardising lawmakers’ freedom of association under a House of Representatives Recall Act, says MCA.

       The party’s spokesperson Chan Quin Er said the fact that the proposed anti-hopping law was being fine-tuned, and that Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said had called for inclusion of “recall elections” provisions in the Bill, only reaffirmed MCA’s position.

       “MCA would like to affirm that Azalina’s call is consistent with MCA’s position on recall elections,” she said in a statement yesterday.

       On Sept 6, 2021, the MCA Bill Committee proposed introducing the Recall Act.

       Chan reiterated MCA’s position on the proposed Recall Act, which requires MPs who defect to another party, or commit offences listed in the Act (that do not constitute disqualification from office under Article 48 (1) (e) of the Federal Constitution), to answer to their electorate or risk losing their seat.

       She said other countries and regions, like the United Kingdom and Taiwan, have such laws.

       She said an MP who switches parties after being elected to office will be subject to a recall under the act if a voter in his/her electorate files a recall petition with the Election Commission.

       “In light of Article 10 (1) (c) of the Federal Constitution, a Recall Act is the most effective way to address rampant party-switching without jeopardising an MP’s freedom of association,” she added.

       She said that the Recall Act is critical in resolving the age-old issue of MPs changing parties while adhering to democratic principles, particularly after the 14th General Election when party-switching increased drastically.

       “As a result, effective governance was undermined and Malaysians grew increasingly frustrated with politicians,” she said.