PETALING JAYA: The proposed anti-hopping bill will be tabled when Parliament begins it scheduled meeting this July 18 said Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
"Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has decided, as head of the House, that there is no need for the government to hold a special one day Parliament sitting to table the Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill related to prohibition on switching parties by members of Dewan Rakyat," the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement on Thursday (June 9)
He cited several reasons why the Prime Minister decided not to hold a special one day sitting to table the constitutional amendments in the first week of July as proposed by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).
Among them was cost of holding the one day special sitting and the absence of members of Parliament who will be abroad on official work.
"Overall, the government will have to bear an estimated cost of RM1.07mil, not including operational costs if the special sitting is held for both Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara," he said.
Besides this, he noted that several MPs will be overseas if the meeting is held in the first week of July as proposed by the PSSC.
"As an example, the special select committee on finance and economy including the committee on security will be away between early to mid-July," he added.
Wan Junaidi also noted that the coming Parliament meeting has been scheduled to begin on July 18.
He said the proposed Bill will be tabled at the meeting and assured that ample time would be given to debate and pass the proposed law.
On Wednesday (June 8), Wan Junaidi announced that the PSSC had finalised the draft of the proposed laws for Cabinet's approval including a recommendation to hold a special one day sitting in the first week of July for the purpose.
Dewan Rakyat is scheduled to begin its meeting this coming July 18 till Aug 4.
Last Tuesday (June 2), Wan Junaidi announced that the proposed anti-hopping laws would be done by way of constitutional amendments through the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022.
He said that there is need for separate specific laws to deal with party hopping.
If passed at a one-day special sitting in early July, the anti hopping law could be enforced as early as September this year.
Among the proposed amendments is that a by-election is to be held within 60 days if a Member of Parliament (MP) party hops or voluntarily resigns from his party under the proposed anti-party hopping law.
Also to be amended is Article 10 of the Federal Constitution on freedom of association aimed at preventing party hopping. - Star
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