AYER KEROH: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang) Chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shot off a barb at the government for not having implemented the anti-party hopping bill, yet.
Instead, the Langkawi Member of Parliament said the government was seeking to implement parliamentary reforms to prevent federal lawmakers charged in court from attending meetings in the August House.
"Nothing yet on the anti-hopping. This government (probably) likes it if people jump (parties, because) this will enable them to have sufficient numbers. If there are people who jump only, then (can become Prime Minister) like Muhyiddin (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin). If no one jumps, he cannot become a Prime Minister." he said.
The former prime minister said this after opening a retreat involving Pejuang members and supporters here today.
Dr Mahathir said in Parliament now there are still members who not only are facing charges in Court, instead there are still those who are attending meetings despite being sentenced.
"Not only those who have cases (in courts), those who have sentence imposed on them could still instruct the government how to rule a country.
"In the world, there is no other country where rogues who have been found guilty can come to meetings and teach the government how to rule.
"That they are experienced, the experience of stealing money, abuse of power and corruption, that is their experience, he said without mentioning any names.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar in a statement said the Cabinet had agreed with the proposal to implement Parliamentary reforms.
This will see among others amendment to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 containing provisions on whether to prohibit Members of Parliament (MP) charged in court from attending council activities.
Wan Junaidi also said that two other Parliamentary reform proposals agreed by the Cabinet last Wednesday were related to the enactment of the Parliamentary Services Act and introducing the Draft Code of Ethics for Members of Parliament.