Party Hoppers

Reminder: this is not about Hip-Hop.

 

“Party hopping is a despicable act”. That was the statement made by the PM aired nationwide through the mainstream media news on the 6^th of April 2008. I can still remember the late night when the 2008 election results were announced; the same man said during press conference that the BN welcomes any politician from the opposition to cross the floor to BN’s side. Correct me if I am wrong. But if the above is in the affirmative then the current local political scenario may be as follows:-

 

(i) Initial situation

After the announcement of the election results, the BN lost its two-third majority they once enjoyed. Stupefied by the result they try to consolidate their position by luring elected opposition politicians to do the most welcomed ‘party-hopping’. If this occurs, BN’s quorum in the parliament will be strengthened and perhaps two-third majority can be achieved.

 

(ii) Current situation

It seems that there are no elected opposition politicians who are willing to cross the floor. Now the situation for the BN, far from being strengthened, is made worst by the rumours, whether credible or not, of the possibility of BN members to cross over to the opposition camp. If this happens, a sudden change of government is possible and the Pakatan Rakyat will be the ruling government.

 

Two contradictory statements… two different situations… what next?

 

So far there is no law that prohibits politician to crossover. However recently there is a proposal, made by the government through the de facto law minister, of an anti hopping law. For such law to be enacted, the Federal Constitution must be first amended so that the basic right of ‘freedom of expression’ protected by Article 10 of the Constitution can be altered to exclude party hopping schemes thus eliminating the prospect of the law to be challenged before the court on grounds of ultra vires (Article 4 of the Constitution).

 

The law minister viewed crossovers as ‘unethical’ thus the need for such laws to exist. Is ‘unethical’ is a viable enough reason for the legislative to go through all the trouble amending the constitution first before the passing of the intended law? From my point of view, ‘unethical’ alone is a lame reason to cause existence of such law and erosion of a guaranteed right given by the constitution. Is it worth it? This is not about ethics, it is all about pure politics, about who gets what. Some people are willing to kill to walk the corridors of power and thus willing to do more to cling to the mantle of power.

 

Political crossovers are usually viewed by many as result of corruption. All over the world such crossovers are usually done by bribed corrupted dimwitted politicians. However there are also few politicians who are not willing to be Judas, did the crossover not because of money but because of supporting idealism. The latter though rare in occurrence is the most acceptable reason for party switching.

 

Idealism is actually human factor. It totally depends on the rhetoric and charisma of its conveyor. The Nazi ideals could never able to lure the Aryans to their own doom if not for Hitler. Communism would never flourish in Russia if not for Lenin. The Malayan Union could never be defeated if not for Onn Jaafar. So on an so forth… Looking at the current Malaysian political scene, who has the right package to convey idealism whatever it may be? For me, the only person that fit the description now is Anuar Ibrahim and it is only he that is able to lure, using his outstanding charisma, politicians from BN to come to his side on pretext of idealism.

 

Whatever the reasons are, riches or ideals, I have to agree with the PM (his latest stand) that crossover is indeed a despicable act. It cheats the Rakyat, in particular the voters who had voted for the politician, not because of his personal prowess, but due to the reason of party ticket which he or she had contested with. If a party switch should occur let a by election be conducted so that the ‘hopping’ politician can contest under another party ticket and let the Rakyat decide whether they would love to vote for a turncoat or not.

 

In my opinion the anti hopping law is a good proposal but it was made at a wrong time and at a wrong situation. If the law be enacted years ago long before all these political brouhaha, many would praise it as a commendable instrument in protecting democracy thus the interest of the Rakyat. However if the law is passed now, under the current political scenario, it will be branded only as an instrument to serve one purpose that is to save someone’s arse (asses).