Free Malaysia Today | Former Parliament Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said called for the amendment of Article 48 which allows for the disqualification of MPs in the Federal Constitution. Lawyer New Sin Yew concurred, noting that the proposed amendment to restrict the freedom of association could give the government full control over other political parties.
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer New Sin Yew said amending Article 10 of the Federal Constitution concerning freedom of association without amending Article 48 would render the future anti-hopping law unconstitutional. PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar also called for the clause to be revised as it gives the federal government the power to strip MPs of seats.
Free Malaysia Today | Subang MP Wong Chen said the bill to amend the Federal Constitution, to provide the Parliament the power to enact an anti-hopping law, contained a provision that was “too wide”. Lawyer New Sin Yew described the proposed amendments as being “very dangerous”, claiming that it would allow the government “to abuse its power to control other political parties”.
Malaysiakini | The constitutional amendment bill inserts a sub-clause in Article 10 that empowers federal laws to supersede the Federal Constitution on matters related not only to anti-hopping, but to “membership in a political party”. Lawyer New Sin Yew warned that this is open to abuse, by enacting laws that provide more grounds for expulsion from political parties.
Malaysiakini | The proposed anti-party hopping bill will not be tabled during the special parliamentary sitting on Monday, instead a constitutional amendment will be introduced. Lawyer New Sin Yew cautioned against a clause in the proposed bill that would trigger a by-election if an MP is expelled by their party; this is subject to abuse by a malicious party leadership.
BFM | New Sin Yew weighed in on why the proposed anti-party hopping bill was not ideal, particularly because it did not address situations such as the “Sheraton Move” when entire parties changed coalitions, and ended up making politicians beholden to parties instead of to constituents.
Free Malaysia Today | Former Parliament Deputy Speaker Azalina Othman Said called for the amendment of Article 48 which allows for the disqualification of MPs in the Federal Constitution. Lawyer New Sin Yew concurred, noting that the proposed amendment to restrict the freedom of association could give the government full control over other political parties.
Free Malaysia Today | Lawyer New Sin Yew said amending Article 10 of the Federal Constitution concerning freedom of association without amending Article 48 would render the future anti-hopping law unconstitutional. PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar also called for the clause to be revised as it gives the federal government the power to strip MPs of seats.
Free Malaysia Today | Subang MP Wong Chen said the bill to amend the Federal Constitution, to provide the Parliament the power to enact an anti-hopping law, contained a provision that was “too wide”. Lawyer New Sin Yew described the proposed amendments as being “very dangerous”, claiming that it would allow the government “to abuse its power to control other political parties”.
Malaysiakini | The constitutional amendment bill inserts a sub-clause in Article 10 that empowers federal laws to supersede the Federal Constitution on matters related not only to anti-hopping, but to “membership in a political party”. Lawyer New Sin Yew warned that this is open to abuse, by enacting laws that provide more grounds for expulsion from political parties.
Malaysiakini | The proposed anti-party hopping bill will not be tabled during the special parliamentary sitting on Monday, instead a constitutional amendment will be introduced. Lawyer New Sin Yew cautioned against a clause in the proposed bill that would trigger a by-election if an MP is expelled by their party; this is subject to abuse by a malicious party leadership.
BFM | New Sin Yew weighed in on why the proposed anti-party hopping bill was not ideal, particularly because it did not address situations such as the “Sheraton Move” when entire parties changed coalitions, and ended up making politicians beholden to parties instead of to constituents.
