KANGAR: The anti-hopping law should be strengthened to prevent elected representatives from taking advantage of its loopholes to switch their support to an opposing political coalition.
Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said the move was necessary to curb the practice of lawmakers at both federal and state levels, from going against the mandate entrusted by the voters to them.
"I think the anti-hopping law has failed and it should be enhanced to halt the move by elected representatives in using means to 'legitimise a bad action'.
"To me, the law is insufficient and it should be added (a clause) which bars any member of Parliament from expressing their support to an opposing political coalition .
"This is the right thing to do, based on the latest developments there is a loophole (for MPs) to switch their support without hopping to another political party," he told reporters after attending the Perlis State Economic Development Corporation 50 years anniversary celebration in Kuala Perlis yesterday evening.
Shukri, who is also the state Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Perlis Pas commissioner was commenting on the recent move by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) MPs expressing their support towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
On Oct 12, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid expressed his support for Anwar, followed by Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman.
Over the past two days, two more Bersatu lawmakers, Gua Musang MP Mohd Azizi Abu Naim and Jeli MP Zahari Kechik also pledged their support to Anwar.
All four, however, pledged their loyalty to Bersatu despite the move.
