Gerakan has urged the government to immediately table and pass the proposed anti-hopping law, in the wake of the recent defection of seven former Umno MPs to Bersatu.

In a statement today, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong said doing so would be in the interest of safeguarding the spirit of democracy, and respecting the will of the voters. 

According to him, once a candidate had contested, and won under a party's ticket, it is pertinent for him/her to continue representing the said party, and not jump halfway, to another party.

Elected representatives should respect voters, and have the most "basic democratic consciousness", he added. 

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"In order to prevent the culture of party hopping and stopping opportunists from jumping party to become members of the ruling coalition, the Pakatan Harapan government should enforce the anti-party hopping law as soon as possible.

"It can also be one of the important steps in reforming Malaysia," he added.

Oh pointed to Penang and Kelantan, which have passed and enforced an anti-party hopping enactment.

In Penang, the anti-hopping law has been in force since Feb 15, 2012.

On Feb 12, Prime Minister, and Bersatu chairperson, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, issued membership cards to seven former Umno lawmakers in Putrajaya this evening.

The seven are Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin, Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut), Shabudin Yahaya (Tasek Gelugor), Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah), Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), and Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu).