Corrected at 4:25pm, 4 Nov 2009 THERE are those who cheered for Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s now infamous 16 September 2008 plot to take over the federal government by defections. There are also those who initially cheered the 10-day defection of Datuk Nasarudin Hashim (state assemblyperson for Bota, Perak) from Umno to Parti […]
party-hopping
The ethics of party hopping
By Shanon Shah“Bagi pihak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Kedah kita amat kesal dengan sikap yang tidak bertanggungjawab ini. Telah menjadi satu kebiasaan apabila ada pilihanraya kecil, akan ada isu-isu lompat parti. Kita menjangkakan ini adalah sebahagian daripada tindakan yang dirancang oleh Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk memanipulasi isu menjelang pilihanraya kecil Permatang Pasir pada 25 Ogos nanti … […]
Proposal to EC on Perak crisis
By Tan Keng LiangON 18 April 2009, I sent in several proposals to the Election Commission on amending election law. One of these concerned amending Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution so that an assemblyperson who wishes to change allegiance to another party can resign and hold a by-election. Article 48(6) of the Federal Constitution states: “A person […]
Anti-hopping laws versus five-year ban
By Deborah LohWHEN Jelapang assemblyperson Hee Yit Foong left the DAP to become an independent supporting Barisan Nasional (BN), some of her constituents cried, “We didn’t vote for her, we voted for her party!” That was the mildest of angry sentiments expressed on the night of 5 Feb 2009 at the Perak Menteri Besar’s official residence, where […]
Khairy: Sultan rules all
By Jacqueline Ann Surin and Shanon ShahIN recent interviews, Umno Youth-chief hopeful Khairy Jamaluddin has condemned party-hopping, and has been arguing strenuously for reform of Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN). However, after the recent BN takeover of the Perak government by defections from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) camp, Khairy apparently made an about-face. When addressing a crowd of Umno Youth […]
Vacant exco posts bait for party-hopping
PENANG, 11 Feb 2009: The Perak state government has been accused of keeping four executive council (exco) posts vacant as bait to lure state assemblypersons from the Pakatan Rakyat to defect. Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng also claimed that the appointment of only six exco members was irresponsible because the task of managing a […]
DAP will support Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR, 9 Feb 2009: DAP will continue to support Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the Opposition Leader, DAP secterary-general Lim Guan Eng said. He said Anwar would remain as Pakatan Rakyat leader and as Opposition Leader as agreed by the PKR-PAS-DAP leaderships. “He will remain, as no […]
Right to seek redress in court
By Datuk Ambiga SreenevasanTHE present situation in Perak raises many legal and constitutional issues. It is the view of some constitutional lawyers that the prerogative of the Ruler is “non-justiciable” and cannot be reviewed by the courts. Thus, although we, and others, are of the view that dissolution of the state legislative assembly in Perak would have been […]
PAS: One-way hopping acceptable
By The Nut Graph team“If he wants to join a cause he feels is right, like PAS’s, we would not object. It is compulsory that we accept him…Looking at the situation now, party-hopping is acceptable as the Barisan Nasional member does not like the party anymore.” PAS Terengganu state commissioner Datuk Mustafa Ali when commenting on Bota state assemblyperson […]
Hopping from position to position
By The Nut Graph team“People like him don’t have any political consciousness…he was chosen by running under BN, not as an independent, DAP, PKR, or PAS candidate. “He has betrayed the voters’ trust…if I was from Perak, I would start gathering the support of NGOs and village chiefs to pressure him to step down.” DATUK Seri Dr Rais Yatim, […]