Muhyiddin calls for review of anti-hop law, says weaknesses exposed by recent events

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called for a review of the anti-party hopping law in light of recent side-swapping by several Bersatu MPs.

The Bersatu president said recent events exposed critical weaknesses of the law that could still be exploited by parties.

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“It is clear that the law must be reviewed to maintain fairness and that appropriate punishment must be dealt when deserved,” he said after an emergency party supreme council meeting at Perikatan Nasional headquarters here Thursday (Nov 9).

This comes after four Bersatu MPs declared their support for the unity government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the past month.

This includes Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid on Oct 12, Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman on Oct 3, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim on Tuesday (Nov 7) and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik on Wednesday (Nov 8).

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The party had previously taken action against two of those who supported Anwar by suspending Iskandar for four years effective Nov 3 and Suhaili for six years effective Nov 7.

The punishments for Azizi and Zahari would be decided soon by the Bersatu disciplinary board, Muhyiddin said.

The Perikatan Nasional chairman also claimed that elements of corruption had been used to sway the four Bersatu MPs.

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On this, Muhyiddin said the party would begin compiling evidence on the issue and that they would make a report to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) soon.

“We believe a number of MACC officers are also involved and we shall also make a report on our suspicions to the MACC as well,” he added.

He then reaffirmed that the actions of the four rogue Bersatu MPs were not supported by Bersatu.

“We will continue to stand firm in defending the principles we fought on and trust that we will take all necessary actions to ensure those involved receive the punishments they deserve,” he said.