PARLIAMENT | The constitutional amendment meant to pave the way for an anti-hopping law should be voted on and passed simultaneously with the eventual law said opposition leaders Anwar Ibrahim (Pakatan Harapan-Port Dickson) and Anthony Loke (Harapan-Seremban).
This is to ensure it is clear that the constitutional amendment, which they both described as being too broad, is meant only for the anti-hopping law and cannot be abused for other purposes in the future.
As such, the duo said they have discussed this with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob this morning and the constitutional amendment will be referred to a new special select committee to be refined further.
“We urge for the amendment of Article 10(3)(a) to be refined and this was agreed upon in principle by the prime minister, for the amendment to be specific for the issue of defection or change of parties.
“We propose (the finalised constitutional amendment be pushed) to the next session, latest by the end of May and I hope the prime minister will agree for the tabling of this constitutional amendment to be done in tandem with the tabling of the anti-hopping bill.
“So that we know this amendment has a specific meaning and fulfils our purpose… so that MPs are sure that this constitutional amendment is meant for the anti-hopping bill,” Anwar said in the special Dewan Rakyat meeting today.
Taking ‘most prudent approach’
Loke revealed that in their meeting with Ismail Sabri, they had agreed to reach a consensus on a wiser approach to coming up with an anti-hopping law which includes refining the constitutional amendment to Article 10(3)(a) to be more specific and abolishing Article 48(6).
They also decided on the need for a specific anti-hopping law.
“Hence, the most prudent approach would be for us to refer to a special select committee to refine all the amendments needed so that an anti-hopping law can be enacted and implemented well.
“That is why we agreed and we support the approach that after today’s debate, we will postpone the second reading and we refer to a special select committee,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat.
Like Anwar, the DAP secretary-general also urged for a special sitting before the end of next month to bring the constitutional amendment back to the Dewan Rakyat for voting, along with the anti-hopping bill.
“So that in the coming sitting, we can pass them all at once, instead of passing only the constitutional amendment needed to allow the anti-hopping bill.
“Hence, I support this constitutional amendment bill to be referred to the special select committee,” Loke added.
This would greatly restore the people’s confidence in the democratic system and the election process, he said, as the country would then have a complete set of laws specifically preventing party-hopping by May.
No voting for today
Loke also suggested Gobind Singh Deo (Harapan-Puchong) as DAP’s representative on the special select committee.
Today’s special Dewan Rakyat meeting was meant to pass amendments to the Federal Constitution which would prevent party-hopping – an issue which the opposition has been pressuring the government on, as it was part of the main conditions in their memorandum of understanding.
However, after this morning’s meeting between the prime minister and the Harapan leadership, it appears that no voting will be held on the amendments today.
Instead, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said in his speech while tabling the amendments for its second reading, that the matter will be referred to a special select committee for further deliberation after the debates.
Sixty MPs are scheduled to debate the bill in the Dewan Rakyat. - Mkini
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