GUA MUSANG: The anti-party hopping bill due to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in July this year will not be successful as it goes against the federal constitution and is "illogical".
Gua Musang member of parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who is fondly known as Ku Li believed that the bill would not be passed in the House as there were matters that were not taken into consideration.
"The bill to prevent party hopping will not be successful because the constitution provides the rights to an opinion and to choosing the desired political party for each person. These cannot be disturbed.
"If our party is suddenly dissolved, where can we go? Since there's an anti-hopping law, we can't (hop to another). So, it is illogical from a legal point of view.
"The government can't simply impose such restrictions. What will happen if there's an emergency? Party hopping will happen as we need to form a government. Or do we prefer chaos instead?" he said.
Tengku Razaleigh said this to reporters after officiating the Parent-Teacher Association meeting at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tengku Indra Petra 2 here yesterday.
Commenting on the latest party-hopping activity involving Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin, Tengku Razaleigh said the government would become unstable should the former resign from the cabinet.
He claimed that Zuraida's decision to leave Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia for Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) had resulted in a weak federal government.
"In my opinion, if Zuraida and maybe three other MPs pull their support, our government will be unstable. It has probably already fallen.
"According to the constitution, the prime minister needs the vote of support in the Dewan Rakyat and morally, a government must have the support of members of the House who are likely to have confidence in it (the government).
"But, if more members quit the cabinet, then the government of the day will be weak.
"If the prime minister is challenged to a vote (of confidence), I believe the best way out is for the prime minister to have an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah)."
Yesterday, while announcing her decision to leave Bersatu for PBM, Zuraida expressed her confidence and support for the present government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Zuraida, who is currently in Turkey, said she is expected to return home on June 2 and will be meeting Ismail Sabri to discuss her ministerial status and new political career.