Chief Ahmad Yahya said this would prevent those facing charges in court from using their position as elected representatives to later “avoid” prosecution.

“In this aspect, we hope court cases involving misconduct and corruption by politicians can be expedited,” he said at the 61st PAS muktamar at the Dewan Serbaguna Guar Chempedak in Yan today.

Ahmad also suggested that individuals who had issued statements that “threaten the country’s harmony” and who dispute the privileges enshrined in the Federal Constitution be disqualified from contesting in elections.

His proposals come following Dewan Rakyat’s unanimous passing of the historic anti-hopping bill on July 28.

The bill requires a two-thirds majority, or the support of at least 148 MPs, in the Dewan Rakyat to amend Article 10 (1) (c) of the Federal Constitution.

Ahmad also called on the government to enact political funding laws to prevent a culture of money politics.

He said the conditions for eligibility to contest in elections, whether at the state or parliamentary level, needed to be tightened.

“A candidate can be disqualified if found guilty of an offence that carries a punishment of imprisonment for one year or more and a fine of more than RM2,000, or if the person has declared loyalty to another country.

“These conditions are considered too loose and do not reflect the same stringent requirements required under the constitutional amendment for the anti-hopping law,” he said.

On Aug 13, law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the drafting of the political funding bill would be expedited for it to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in October.

He said a memorandum on the bill was expected to be presented to the Cabinet this month for approval before the next Parliament meeting in October.