'Report on constitutional amendments can be ready within a month'

 

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is optimistic that the parliamentary special select committee on the anti-hopping law, can prepare a statement containing the proposal for the relevant bill within a month.

Wan Junaidi said this was because the committee members are legal experts, however, he refused to disclose any discussions held by the committee which was set up to make recommendations on amendments to the Federal Constitution regarding the prohibition of MPs from changing parties.

"It is not allowed (to be revealed) by the Standing Orders unless the report has been tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, then it becomes a public document.

"Only then, I as the chairperson can reveal (the matter or the committee's discussions)," he told reporters when met at a gathering of agencies under the Parliament and Law cluster yesterday.

Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, Attorney-General Idrus Harun and Solicitor-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh.

He said the first meeting of the committee comprising 11 government and opposition MPs was held on April 15 and more meetings will be held starting tomorrow.

Ex-Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof

On the suggestion made by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof that the committee should be chaired by an opposition MP in an effort to be neutral, Wan Junaidi said he had received instructions from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to chair the committee.

He said the decision was made during discussions between the prime minister and Pakatan Harapan leaders and representatives of government MPs in the Dewan Rakyat on April 11.

Asked whether a special Parliament sitting will be held in June, Wan Junaidi said the power to convene a special Parliament session rests with the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi said he targeted a bill on the proposed amendments to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952 (Act 347) and the Parliamentary Services scheme and the Parliamentary Services Commission regarding the proposal to create its own service for Parliament will be debated at the sitting this July.

"In line with the memorandum of understanding on political transformation and stability, the Parliament transformation has become my major agenda," he said, adding that he had tabled developments on the proposed amendments to the cabinet.

- Bernama