Some Malaysians know the story from Grimms Fairy Tales called ‘The Frog Prince’ in which a frog changes back into a handsome prince after it was kissed by a beautiful princess.

She was initially reluctant to kiss the ugly frog but when she finally did, she successfully broke the spell of a wicked witch on the frog prince.

Well, there is no happy ending for frogs in Malaysia, especially political frogs.

There is no beautiful princess, broken spells or happy ever after finale of prince and princess walking hand-in-hand into the sunset.

Malaysians know from experience that political frogs are among the most dangerous species in the animal kingdom.

Whilst ordinary frogs are an important part of the food chain because they help to control the population of insects, political frogs have become a political tool used by unprincipled leaders, to betray the public.

Many people abhor political frogs because they cause instability, make people mistrust and despise politicians, and alter the political equation.

Political frogs neglect to honor the voting public which put them in power. They make political donors regret giving money to their cause. They create tension and discord between parties of their own coalition, and they make us weary of voting.

In recent times, there has been an explosion in the numbers of political frogs and leaders who lack integrity. They are desperate to enlarge their power base and will accept political frogs into their pond.

Unsurprisingly, it is all about power.

Frogs jump for money, to have a court case dropped, or to gain positions of power. They may leap because they have been offered something more lucrative.

They may jump very high especially when they think their own pond is becoming a cesspit, in other words, they act like rats who will desert a sinking ship.

Some Malaysians may recall that the first recorded political frog of Malaysia, who jumped to gain power, in Sabah.

Older Malaysians will remember that in the 1960s, the United Pasok Momogun Kadazandusun Murut Organization (Upko) was formed, but in 1967, it left the Sabah Alliance.

Then after the state elections, Upko’s assemblyman in Kiulu, Payar Juman, declared himself an independent and so, destroyed Upko’s chance to form the state government.

In his book, “March 8: A Time for Change,” author Kee Thuan Chye wrote that Payar claimed that Upko had created tension in the state and jumped ship to the United Sabah National Organization (Usno). He was then made the Minister of Social Welfare in the state.

The political frogs have crossed the South China Sea, and caused discord in Semenanjung Malaysia.

In 2008, in Perak, three MPs dashed the hopes of all Perakians, with their betrayal.

Money was the prime mover and two of them were charged with corruption, but the charges were dropped, when these frogs became independents, friendly to Umno-Baru/BN.

The terrible effects of frogs are not confined to Sabah and Perak, because in the past few years, we have seen an explosion of these political frogs. It appears that the environment is conducive to their population growth.

Former Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is not the only one guilty of encouraging the invasion of frogs from Umno-Baru to his then party, Bersatu, but you will not be surprised to know that his former deputy, Anwar Ibrahim, is not without blame.

In May 2019, Sandakan by-election, PKR president, Anwar mocked the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) saying it was “insignificant”.

Furious at the jibe, the PBS Information chief, Joniston Bangkuai, reminded Anwar of the allegation that he had been responsible for PBS’s downfall in 1994, when Anwar, as the DPM, had encouraged several assemblymen to jump ship to BN.

In the 1994 state elections, PBS had won 25 seats (BN managed 23) and were set to rule Sabah.

PBS had pulled out of the BN coalition in 1990. The defections to BN put an end to their dreams, paved the way for Umno to dominate in Sabah, and establish the toxic and unsavory race and religious brand of rule, characteristic of peninsular Malaysian politicians.

When the leaders of parties are in the Opposition, they will demand an end to political frog hopping, but when they are in power, they want to increase their powerbase and all talk about anti-hopping laws disappears.

These leaders who lack integrity know that it is politically expedient to use frogs.

The resignation or expulsion of an MP from his party, must trigger a by-election.

Not all political frogs are princes, just like in the fairy tale, but the latest political frog has royal bloodlines. He created headlines with his impending departure from Umno-Baru to PKR.

He lost his seat in the last GE but became a minister via the back door, when he was made a senator.

Why go through the trouble of holding elections and hoping that our votes will create change and promise a future for our children, when political frogs are allowed to switch parties, cause mayhem, and betray the nation?

Political frogs are not charming princes. Their kisses are lethal. The make the country unstable.

They must be stopped from causing more political instability.

(Mariam Mokhtar is a Freelance Writer.)