COMMENT | Bersatu Six decision and the backsliding of reforms

COMMENT | First, there was not applying fair allocation to all constituencies.

Now, there is the anti-hopping law, as six formerly Bersatu men are allowed to keep their seats technically as opposition even though they changed political allegiances and were suspended from their party for doing so.

For both allocations and hopping, the actions infringe on the essence of reform that was at the heart of the measures arising during the political turbulence of the Covid-19 period.

Fairness and public accountability were tied to the respective measures. No constituency was to be punished by denial of funds for how they voted. Politicians were supposed to be held accountable for changing political loyalties to access power and its spoils.

Malaysia’s institutions were supposed to be strengthened irrespective of the allegiances of those in office.

The decision by Dewan Rakyat speaker Johari Abdul to allow the six Madani-government-aligned, former Bersatu MPs to keep their seats is...