Commenting on the dispute between Umno and Rembia assemblyman Jailani Khamis who recently announced his move to PAS, Zaid criticised such agreements, referring to the High Court’s order issued to former PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin last year to pay RM10 million in damages for breaching a party bond she signed more than six years ago.

“Emboldened by this decision, Umno is now demanding RM100 million from its former assemblyman from Melaka.

“It will not surprise me if political parties stipulate a higher figure on their (agreement with) candidates in the next general election in 2027 – unless society does not reward their dictator-like behaviour,” he said.

In a post on X today, Zaid said political agreements were unlike regular contractual employment or business agreements.

He said the anti-hopping law was already the “real deterrent”, as opposed to the hefty penalties imposed by parties, as it punished defection by MPs and assemblymen to other parties with the loss of their seats.

Zaid also said candidates worked hard for their parties, and it should be enough that their seats be forfeited if they abandoned their parties or refused to follow directives.

“The agreement seeks compensation in large amounts of money from candidates who have earned their candidacy through their hard voluntary work.

“They are the best candidates to win, so they have been chosen. They are, in fact, doing the party a favour,” he said.

The former MP said as the law continued to uphold freedom of association, the courts should never help “bolster habits that cultivate dictatorship”.