The Anti-Party Hopping Act has allegedly failed to prevent elected representatives from switching political allegiance while leaving suspended lawmakers in a difficult position, unable to chart their own political future, according to Beluran MP Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee.
Ronald said the government should review the implementation of the law to ensure it does not unfairly affect elected representatives facing disciplinary action from their parties.
“The Anti-Party Hopping Act has not only failed to stop party hopping, but has also victimised those of us who have been victimised by our own parties.
“We are caught in a difficult position. The party no longer wants us, but we cannot move on and shape our own political alignment,” he said while debating Budget 2027 in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday.
On March 10, Ronald, who was then a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) vice-president, was suspended from the party for two terms, equivalent to six years, with immediate effect.
The suspension followed a finding by Bersatu’s Disciplinary Board that he had breached Clause 9.1.4 of the party constitution, as well as its Code of Ethics and Conduct for Members.
The action was also linked to his open support for former Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, including his involvement in the RESET programme launched after Hamzah was expelled from the party in February.
Ronald said the current government should seize the opportunity to introduce reforms while it remained in power, warning that other elected representatives could face similar circumstances if there was a change of government in the future.
“The government in power should do something. Otherwise, if there is a change of government, they will complain about the same situation we are facing now,” he said.
He also raised concerns over the allocation of funds to MPs, arguing that such provisions should not depend on whether they represent the government or the opposition.
Ronald cited the period after Barisan Nasional (BN) lost the 14th General Election in 2018, when opposition MPs did not receive government allocations, as an example of why stronger safeguards were needed to ensure fair treatment.
He suggested that the allocation of funds to all MPs should be considered through constitutional amendments so that the arrangement would not change whenever a new government took office.
Ronald also agreed that withholding allocations to pressure elected representatives who did not support the Prime Minister amounted to an abuse of power.
“If this is done now, the next government will do the same. Whoever sits on this side of the House as the opposition will face the same situation,” he said.
