Govt to consider Section 18C of Societies Act in drafting anti-hopping bill, says law minister

Law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has assured that the government will take into account all relevant and related provisions including Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966 when drafting the anti-party hopping bill to stop MPs from jumping ship.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, he also repeated assurances that the amendment to Article 10 of the Federal Constitution would be subject to it specifically addressing MPs who switch parties, the proposal to repeal Article 48(6) of the constitution, and the enactment of legislation related to the ban on MPs switching camps.

“The select committee will look at what needs to be done,” he said when asked if the next draft would consider Section 18C of the Societies Act.

Perikatan Nasional chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday that MPs who are sacked from their parties should not be included in the definition of party hoppers.

“There is no room for such MPs to challenge their parties’ decision in court because of the ouster clause in Section 18C of the Societies Act 1966,” he had said.

“Appeals can only be made to the Supreme Councils which are controlled by the party leaders. Is this fair?”

This follows MalaysiaNow’s report on April 9 that the anti-hopping bill could benefit the Umno court cluster due to a separate law giving political parties a blanket right when it comes to the expulsion of members.

The bill in its present form, aside from causing elected representatives to lose their seats if they switch party loyalties after being elected, could see those sacked from their parties losing their seats as well, even if the sackings were wrongful, unfair or done under controversial circumstances.

The court cluster, a euphemism for a group of former government leaders and MPs facing criminal charges, is led by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak.

Late last year, Najib lost his appeal to overturn his corruption conviction over RM42 million in his personal accounts. He is currently awaiting his final bid at the Federal Court to avoid his 12-year jail term.

Meanwhile, the corruption trial of Zahid, who has been told to enter his defence for 47 charges involving millions of ringgit from a charity foundation, is due to start late this month.

Last month, Najib and Zahid led a campaign at the party’s general assembly to have the election called earlier, hoping that its recent victories in the Melaka and Johor state elections could be replicated at the national level, restoring the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government which was toppled in 2018.