| Local | ||
|
Saturday, 20 March 2010 19:30
Last updated on Saturday, 20 March 2010 19:52
|
||
| DAP to Assist BN On Anti-hopping Law |
 |
 |
|
PENANG, 20 MARCH 2010: The DAP is willing to work with the Barisan Nasional (BN) Government on the amendment of the Federal Constitution to outlaw party-hopping.
DAP national chairman Karpal Singh (pic) said DAP was willing to support BN if they were to table the 'anti-hopping' law and assured its 28 members of parliament (MP) would give their support.
"I am very clear with my stand on party-hopping and amending the Federal Constitution to pass an anti-hopping law as it seems to be the better way to solve issues," he told reporters after visiting his constituents near the Air Itam market here today.
He was commenting on MPs quitting their party to become independents, which he regarded as a betrayal of the people's trust. Karpal said the MPs, including Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim (Bayan Baru), Tan Tee Beng (Nibong Tebal) and Zulkifli Noordin (Kulim-Bandar Baharu) should step down to allow the people to elect their own representative after they left the party.
"They were returned on a PKR ticket and it is morally wrong for them, without getting an endorsement from their constituents, to be independents in the Dewan," he said.
However, Karpal also suggested that these independent MPs should skip every sitting of the House for six months, without asking for leave, which would force the House to declare their seats vacant.
"This would allow them to re-contest in a by-election held and there would be no doubt that a capable person wins the polls," he said.
He said Article 48 (6) of the Federal Constitution stated that a person who resigns his membership of the House of Representatives shall be disqualified from being a member of the House for a period of five years, while Article 52 states that a member of the House may have his seat declared vacant if the member is absent without leave, from every sitting for six months.
"It is clear that Article 52 did not specify that MPs cannot re-contest after having their seats declared vacant," he said. |
