One of the main reasons behind our Political instability is MPs changing parties at their whims and fancy, and for their personal agendas.
— Dr Azmi Hassan, political analyst
Make a guess! What is the most dangerous species in Malaysia’s political zoo?
A politician friend says it’s the doubled-headed snake — which betrays you with its hypocrisy. He says the venomous political snake is despicable, lacks principles and is devoid of ethics.
Okay, I can accept his answer. But honestly I think — and most people will agree — the most dangerous species in our political zoo is the katak! Frogs have no sense of decency because they jump for money and create so much instability and political destruction that they bring down parties and even governments democratically elected by the rakyat.
Popular columnist and critic Mariam Mokhtar best describes these despicable katak: “Political frogs cause instability as they make people mistrust and despise politicians. They alter the political equation and neglect to honour the voting public that put them in power.
“They create tension and discord among parties of their own coalition, and they make us weary of voting. They jump for money, to have a court case dropped or to gain positions of power.
“Frogs are a political tool used by unprincipled leaders, to betray the public. Leaders who lack integrity and are desperate to enlarge their power base use frogs. It is all about power.”
Aptly said, Mariam. Couldn’t agree with you more.
Indeed they are a despicable lot and ought to be grilled. We placed our trust in our elected representatives, but when they decide to switch parties, it’s a blatant act of betrayal. It’s akin to dumping your biological mother and adopting another woman as your mum!
It’s therefore welcome news that Parliament proposes to amend the Federal Constitution in this sitting to stop party hopping and put to an end to the destructive “frog politics” plaguing the Malaysian political scene.
Enough is enough. Let’s pray for a new political era sans political katak.
One of the prime movers of the Anti-Party Hopping Bill, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, is confident that it will receive two-thirds support from members of parliament (MPs) when it is tabled.
But first, the majority of MPs must push for amendment to the Federal Constitution or else any anti-hopping law passed will be against the Constitution.
One has just to go back to the 1990s when the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) passed anti-hopping laws to stop our YBs from jumping from one party to another. However, the courts dismissed the laws as null and void as they went against the Federal Constitution (FC) which recognises freedom of association.
Sabah too passed similar anti-hopping laws but were declared null and void by the courts.
The Anti-Party Hopping Bill will definitely put a stop to the political turmoil which our country is going through. The nation and the people have suffered enough; the political problems have prolonged for far too long now.
The people have grown tired of the frogs.
Fortunately in Sarawak, the political katak issue is not a major problem, though we were not short of these frogs. We have witnessed a few elected representative jumping ship. You and I know who they are, and we’ll leave it at that.
Our leaders have made it clear following GPS’ overwhelming victory in the 12th state polls that there is no room for frogs in the state government.
The proposed anti-hopping laws are timely and political analyst Datuk Peter Minos says MPs and assemblymen will stop “selling” themselves or playing hardball with the parties on whose tickets they won.
Any elected representative who jumps to another party shall be disqualified, thus forcing a by-election.
But I hope there will also be clauses in the law to stop the frog from contesting in future elections for a specific period, say perhaps for two elections. Otherwise the anti-hopping laws will be seen as impotent if the disqualified YB is allowed to contest again.
Anyone remembers the first Malaysian state that saw the emergence of the political katak?
You are right, Sabah.
Writes Mariam: “The United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (UPKO) was formed in the 1960s, but the party left the Sabah Alliance in 1967. After the state elections, UPKO’s assemblyman in Kiulu, Payar Juman, declared himself an independent and so, scuppered UPKO’s chance to form the state government.
“In his book ‘March 8: A Time for Change’, author Kee Thuan Chye wrote that Payar claimed that UPKO had created tension in the state and jumped ship to the United Sabah National Organisation (USNO). He was then made the social welfare minister in the state.
“If there was a new species to be discovered in Sabah, it would have to be the political frog. The country has seen an invasion of political frogs ever since Payar’s defection. The frogs have crossed the South China Sea and caused discord in Peninsular Malaysia, too.”
Anyway, let’s pray the passing of the anti-hopping laws will put a stop to the political katak and double-headed venomous snakes once and for all.
