DAP’s Charles Santiago told FMT he was not surprised with Hamzah’s stance and wondered if the latter’s party president, Muhyiddin Yassin, agreed with him.
The Klang MP also questioned if Hamzah defended party-hopping because he was planning to jump ship again.
“His claim goes against what the people want – a stable government, especially after the Sheraton Move,” he said, referring to the political realignment involving Bersatu, PAS, Barisan Nasional, and several former PKR MPs that ultimately caused the collapse of the PH-led federal government.
Party-hopping, he added, would kill the electoral process where the government of the day can be bought “by the highest bidder”.
Earlier today, Sinar Harian reported Hamzah as saying that party-hopping was done in the interest of the people.
“Even former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad did it. It is for the public’s benefit, not the individual,” he was quoted as saying, adding that party-hopping was a norm and had been happening for years.
Hamzah was previously with Umno before defecting to Bersatu in 2019.
Meanwhile, Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil said while the home minister was entitled to his opinion, Malaysians deserved a better democracy without party-hopping.
“People are tired of party hoppers since such acts have eroded the confidence of voters towards the democratic process. (Party) hopping which is induced by threat or greed also breeds corruption and is bad for the nation,” he told FMT.
The PKR communications director added that Malaysian voters, as well as many MPs, were demanding for an anti-hopping law to be enacted.
“This is not for the benefit of any party, but for the rakyat and Malaysia,” he added.
Another PKR MP, Maria Chin Abdullah described Hamzah’s remarks as delusional.
She said that Hamzah’s remarks were a “good indication” that the tabling of the long-awaited anti-hopping bill on June 7 might not happen.
“The writing is on the wall and come June 7, it may be futile to hold any parliament session if the government shows poor commitment to the anti-hopping bill and makes delusional excuses for their refusal,” she said in a statement today.
Jelutong MP RSN Rayer also condemned the Larut MP for his remarks.
“What do frogs know about principles in politics,” he said. “When has a politician in Malaysia hopped from one party to another on the account of public interest?
“It has always been done for power, position, and personal interests,” he said.
He called for the anti-hopping law to be tabled immediately before GE15 or else voters would feel discouraged to come out and vote.
Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub said he found it “ironic” that Hamzah would come out with such a statement as the home minister sat on the steering committee of the memorandum of understanding between the government and the opposition.
He said having an anti-hopping law was among the agenda.