PBK president supports enacting laws to prevent elected govt collapsing through backdoor maneuvering

Voon Lee Shan

KUCHING, Jan 15: Laws should be enacted to prevent the collapse of an elected federal government through backdoor maneuvering by elected Members of Parliament, says Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan.

Voon said the same also should be done with state governments for the same purpose.

“Democracy should not be used for one’s own benefits at the expense of the people’s trust and political stability of the country by jumping party or giving support to opponents to cause the collapse of an elected government.

“This is because it can destabilise the economy and political situation in the country. To betray the voters is against morality and betrays public confidence in our parliamentary democracy,” he said in a statement today.

He said the recent purported Dubai Move had to some extent put the Malaysian public in anxiety and whether or not such a move had been mooted or taken place is irrelevant; but the problem is that speculations have taken much energy and time away from getting Malaysia to move forward.

As such, he opined, a special law has to be enacted to prevent recurrence of changing of government through ‘backdoor maneuvering’.

He said the law should include punishing those who jump party or supporting their opponents by making them vacate their seats with heavy fines and jail terms.

According to Voon, at the moment, there is no penal provision against elected representatives who betray voters’ trust.

He said the party which agrees to support their opponents en bloc after a proper and legal government been formed should be suspended from all political activities for a period of time.

“There is no anti-hopping law although the federal and state constitutions prohibit hopping.

“Constitutions could not impose penal provisions. To impose penal provisions, a statute has to be enacted and constitutions have to be tightened,” he said.

Yesterday (Jan 14), it was reported Putrajaya would consider undertaking an in-depth study for a Fixed Term Parliament Act, to which de facto law minister Dato Sri Azalina Othman Said Azalina said the Bill would maintain political stability, including showing the government’s respect for the will of the people and the democratic process. — DayakDaily