Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said said Members of Parliament should not take the easy route by vacating their seats while their term is still ongoing.
Azalina said although elected representatives have the democratic right to make such decisions, they also carry a responsibility to the people who voted for them, particularly in representing constituents’ voices in the Dewan Rakyat.
She said voters expect their elected representatives to continue serving them until the end of the parliamentary term.
“I feel sorry for the people of Pandan because voters expect their MP to be there for them. At the very least, they should be able to knock on the MP’s door when they face problems or need assistance,” she told reporters after attending the launch of the Pro Bono Commercial Mediation Initiative 2026 organised by the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC).
However, Azalina acknowledged that the MPs involved may have their own reasons for making the decision.
She also expressed hope that leaders within Barisan Nasional (BN) would prioritise completing their service to the rakyat before considering similar moves.
“As long as Parliament has not been dissolved and the five-year term is still ongoing, they should complete their service first. After that, if they want to contest again or join another party, that is up to them,” she said.
Azalina was commenting on the decision by Rafizi Ramli and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad to vacate their parliamentary seats, a move some observers claim goes against the spirit of the anti-party hopping law currently in force.
She stressed that the views of voters in the affected constituencies should also be taken into consideration before such decisions are made.
“Politicians and MPs may act based on their own discretion, but the most important people are the voters. Some voters may want their representatives to complete the full term,” she added.
Azalina said she understood that political leaders may have their own perspectives, but warned that some voters could feel disappointed after making the effort to cast their ballots during elections.
Earlier today, Rafizi and Nik Nazmi reportedly submitted official notices to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul regarding the vacancy of their respective parliamentary seats.
The current 15th Parliament still has approximately 18 months remaining before automatic dissolution.
