MANY people are unhappy with elected representatives who "defect" out of self-preservation.
But one lawmaker's action takes the cake. He wanted approval for a budget allocation of RM30 million for development projects in his constituency. Then he would purportedly "abandon ship", together with four other Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia members of parliament, switching their allegiance to the government of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He made the statement in the Dewan Rakyat.
We are used to hearing stories of MPs seduced by big money to switch parties, but openly demanding a huge government allocation has to be a first. At least he was honest about his circumstances. Lesser MPs would have quietly accepted the money offered to them without the accompanying theatrics.
Still, MPs defecting is an age-old conundrum with no clear resolution in sight, even after the anti-hopping measures were codified. The four Bersatu MPs found a loophole: stay in the party, but declare allegiance to Anwar. All four offered similar reasons. Their actions were rooted in the welfare and progress of their constituents, which government grants and aid are vital for.
While the four may not breach the anti-hopping law, they triggered the ire of Bersatu's bigwigs, who found their "arrangement" untenable. Suspensions were imposed. It's not a case of jumping to another party. If the four did so, they would lose the seats and by-elections would be held. But it's certainly a case of lost loyalty. Bersatu declined to sack the MPs because the disciplinary action would provide them with a free pass to join another party without forfeiting their seats.
The situation is unprecedented. It provides another intriguing insight into the freewheeling nature of party politics, where loyalty can be transient if economic compensation is vague or unforthcoming. Money still talks. Since the motives of the four MPs, who might have nudged another four lawmakers to switch allegiance, are clear, what does this make of the "recipient" party?
To accusations that MPs were "bought", Pakatan Harapan had insisted that no money had changed hands. It was a question of pure political will. As a rejoinder, PH outlined the fault line in Bersatu, especially its problematic alliance with Pas, that may have prompted loathing among the MPs, enough for them to switch loyalty. It sets a disconcerting precedent.
We don't expect to hear the end of this befuddlement anytime soon. Politics in Malaysia is maintaining its normal serving of intrigue, betrayal and money. Lots of it.