Dewan Rakyat Speaker says MPs publicly criticising their own party is a normal democratic exercise, distinct from anti-hopping law violations.
KUALA LUMPUR: MPs who publicly challenge their own party leadership are exercising their democratic rights, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, amid growing debate over how the anti-party hopping law shapes political behaviour within parties.
Johari said the phenomenon of elected representatives attacking or questioning their party leadership is neither new nor unique to Malaysia.
“It is not something that is happening only in Malaysia. It is happening all over the world,” he told theSun.
He cited factional politics in Japan, internal rivalries in Indonesia, and instances in the United States in which party members openly criticise their own leadership or policy direction.
“That is quite normal to me. In many democracies, you will see factions, internal groupings and disagreements within parties.”
However, he added that Malaysia’s political culture has long emphasised party discipline, with disagreements typically expected to be resolved behind closed doors rather than aired publicly.
“We have this belief that when you are in a party, you should not criticise your party openly. Issues are expected to be resolved internally.”
Johari was commenting on recent developments within several political parties, including PKR, where internal disputes have spilled into the public domain.
Asked whether such conduct reflects a healthy democracy, he said open criticism should not be viewed negatively.
“To me, they are exercising their democratic space.”
However, he said motivations behind public dissent can vary, particularly under the anti-party hopping law.
Introduced through constitutional amendments in 2022, the law stipulates that an MP who leaves the party on whose ticket they were elected – whether to join another party or become an independent – automatically loses his seat.
“It is very clear. If you leave the party you contested under, you lose your seat.”
Johari highlighted a critical distinction: an MP who is expelled by their party does not lose his seat.
“If they are expelled, they will not lose their seat. So, the choice is theirs.”
He added that he could not speculate on whether some MPs were provoking disciplinary action to be sacked rather than resigning voluntarily.
“I do not know whether some people criticise their leadership and expect to be expelled, or whether they are simply exercising their democratic process. I do not know.”
He urged caution in interpreting such moves and warned against mischaracterising his position.
“Whether what they are doing is moving towards that effect, to be expelled and then join another party, I do not know.”
Johari emphasised that individual intent remains a matter of political judgment rather than parliamentary determination.
“The anti-hopping law is clear in its mechanics. But as to why someone takes a certain position publicly, that is something only that person can answer.”
While acknowledging public disputes may be uncomfortable for the party leadership, he maintained dissent should not automatically be equated with instability.
“As long as it is within the bounds of the law, they are exercising their democratic rights.”
An internal dispute in Bersatu recently ended with the expulsion of its deputy president and opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and his followers.
Meanwhile, in the government bloc, former PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli openly challenged party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to sack him if he could not stand his criticism.
