PARLIAMENT | Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has declared that the anti-hopping law will come into effect tomorrow (Oct 5).
The anti-hopping law, otherwise known as Act 1663, was approved with the support of a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat on July 28 and in the Dewan Negara on Aug 9 - with the support of a majority of 52 senators.
“The government is committed to ensuring that the law banning members of the Dewan Rakyat from changing parties is enacted to protect the rights of the nation’s rakyat, who have placed high trust in the members of the Dewan Rakyat who were elected during the electoral process,” Wan Junaidi (above) said in a statement released today.
“Setting the new effective date for the Constitution (Amendment) Act (No. 3) 2022 [Act A1663] from Oct 5, 2022, the amendment for Section 7A of the Eighth Schedule, Clause 6 Article 48, Article 160, and new Clause 3A Article 10, as well as Article new 49A, can be enforced immediately.
“This further allows the application of Act A1663 at the state level, subject to the approval of the Sultan/His Excellency/state ruler concerned,” he added.
The law was previously gazetted as Act A1663 on Sept 6, 2022.
The statement also noted that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong gave his assent to the constitutional amendment on Aug 31.
Yesterday, Wan Junaidi have his assurance that the anti-hopping law will take effect before the next general election.
However, in a written parliamentary response to a question from Cha Kee Chin (Pakatan Harapan-Rasah) earlier today, Wan Junaidi replied that the constitutional amendment’s enforcement was to be postponed to “a date that will be determined later”, subject to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s assent.
The anti-hopping law punishes MPs who switch parties by disqualifying them as lawmakers and paving the way for snap polls.
It was drafted in direct response to the Sheraton Move political coup of February 2020, which led to Malaysia having three different prime ministers in under two years. - Mkini
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