LETTER | Malaysian politics will never see its decent and respectable days for a long time to come. 

The mother of all reasons is simple. Our MPs, once elected, do not have to hold allegiance to the party and the manifestos they promised to the people.

They do not have to face re-election if they defect or change allegiance. 

They do not have to face the wrath of the people until at least the next general election. By then, five long years have gone by and damage has been done. 

In the meantime they can make as many deals as they can and change their allegiance as many times as they want.

The genesis of our problem is we interpret the “freedom of association” in the Federal Constitution too far. 

If MPs are allowed to hop and trade, we will see no end to our problem. 

Muhyiddin Yassin may resign, a new PM may step in or even a new poll is called, the problem will still be the same.

Political parties may promise heaven and earth to the people. People may elect them on the basis of those promises.

But at the end of the day, money, corruption, racism, bigotry and treachery conquer all because in Malaysia all these are “freely permissible and allowed”.

There will always be a gang of MPs sufficiently big to form the government based on money, treachery, racism and parochialism. 

As I see it, honorable and right-minded MPs will always be left in the lurch.

When can we see anti-hopping laws enacted is just like when can we see corruption end in this country?  

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.