Malaysia bans party-hopping lawmakers to ease political turmoil

The anti-party hopping bill to curb defections by MPs was approved with a two-thirds majority in parliament

Malaysia has seen three governments in over two years, triggered mostly by lawmakers switching parties and allegiances

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Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Photo: Bernama/dpa

Published: 6:14pm, 28 Jul 2022

Malaysia’s parliament on Thursday passed a bipartisan bill to curb defections by lawmakers, a major cause of political instability and a sign that elections may be round the corner.

The ban on party-hopping was approved with a two-thirds majority and is part of a series of reforms introduced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob in September aimed at strengthening the administration of government. Malaysia has seen three governments in over two years, triggered mostly by lawmakers switching parties and allegiances.

The bill, seen as a prelude to general elections that are widely expected to be held before the September 2023 deadline, aims to end a persisting culture of political horse trading among lawmakers.

Ismail Sabri tabled the bill on Wednesday after a bipartisan committee oversaw amendments to the constitution to facilitate the proposed law.

Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said on Thursday that 209 lawmakers supported the bill while another 11 lawmakers were not present. No lawmaker voted against.

“Party hopping, defection or floor crossing, has caused a lot of debate among the general public,” Ismail Sabri told parliament. “This is because it involves the mandate or trust of the people who elect their representatives in parliament.”