KAJANG: The anti-hopping Bill still needs more studies to ensure it is practical and to avoid unwanted incidents in the future, says Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin.
“The Cabinet has agreed to go ahead with the Act but we need to get even more details on it to avoid the abuse of power by party leaders,” the Home Minister told reporters after attending the 232nd Prisons Day ceremony yesterday.
On Friday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar announced that the Cabinet had decided that the Bill would be postponed for further deliberation as it required more consultation through engagement with other stakeholders, particularly Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.
The announcement prompted various responses from different groups, including the Opposition which demanded an explanation.
Hamzah said the term ‘party hopping’ should also be further defined to make sure that the rights of politicians were taken care of.
“For example, an individual who is fired from his party cannot join another political party.
“If he is not happy with the leadership in that party and fought against the wrongdoings that resulted in him getting fired, does he have the right to ‘hop’ to another party?” he said.
In response to DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng who demanded more clarity on the postponement, Hamzah, who is also the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general, said the Opposition might still be in the dark about the possible issues relating to the Bill.
“Maybe they (the Opposition) still do not know about the concerns of the Cabinet. I don’t blame them nor the government,” he said, urging the political parties to focus on the issues of the rakyat instead of continuously politicking.
The party hopping issue that had been highlighted by certain parties was just an agenda intended to gain more power, he said, adding that the current government was stable.
“I am giving my full support to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is Umno vice president.”