Perak to adopt anti-hopping law, says MB

 

The Perak state government will adopt the anti-party hopping law when the new state assembly convenes on Dec 19, said Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad.

"During the first exco meeting last week, we agreed to adopt the anti-party hopping law and approve the 2023 State Budget on Dec 19.

"If we adopt the law through the Eighth Schedule (of the Federal Constitution), we will not require a two-thirds majority to pass the legislation. A simple majority will be sufficient," the New Straits Times quoted Saarani (above) telling reporters during a media engagement session at St Regis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur last night.

The anti-party hopping law, known as the Constitution (Amendment) (No 3) Bill 2022, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat via a more than two-thirds majority bloc vote last July 28.

It came into effect on Oct 5, shortly before the Parliament was dissolved on Oct 9 to make way for the 15th general election (GE15).

However, the law is yet to come into effect in the states as it requires the consent of the Sultan or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

Earlier this week, Saarani revealed that Perikatan Nasional (PN) had attempted to "steal" four BN assemblypersons, which caused him to hurriedly form the new state government with Pakatan Harapan.

In the state election held in tandem with GE15, PN won 26 state seats, while Harapan and BN garnered 24 and eight seats, respectively.

Since no coalition secured a simple majority to form the government, BN worked with Harapan to form the administration and Saarani returned as the state menteri besar on Nov 21. - Mkini