[UPDATED] Possibly no vote today, anti-hopping bill to be referred to select committee

KUALA LUMPUR – The Dewan Rakyat may not vote on the proposed constitutional amendment on the anti-hopping law in today’s special sitting after all.

Instead, MPs will only be debating today, with the amendment expected to be put up for voting in a separate sitting later.

This is to allow a special select committee to further deliberate on the matter, with the government also agreeing in principle, at the eleventh hour, to make further amendments to the federal constitution, including abolishing Article 48(6).

The article stipulates that a person who resigns from the lower House shall be disqualified from being an MP for a period of five years.

By removing this article, MPs who are removed from their seats, once the anti-hopping law comes into force, will still be eligible to contest in an election.

Law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (Santubong-GPS), in tabling the proposed constitutional amendment to Article 10 today, said the government has decided to defer the amendment in order to refer the matter to the select committee.

The amendment seeks to include an enabling clause in the constitution to allow for a specific piece of anti-hopping legislation to be enacted.

The decision to defer the voting for the Article 10 amendment was made following a meeting this morning between the government and Pakatan Harapan representatives chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“Three matters were agreed, the first being ironing out the amendment (to Article 10), pertaining to what defines party-hopping.

“Second, we agreed on the proposal to abolish Article 48(6) as well as other constitutional provisions deemed necessary. Finally, we agreed to enact a specific bill pertaining to anti-hopping.”

Wan Junaidi said the anti-hopping bill is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in a special sitting some time after the Hari Raya festive period, on a date that will be determined by the prime minister. 

Commenting on the necessity of an anti-hopping law, Wan Junaidi said the recurrence of defections in recent years is a clear signal that the country’s democratic practice today is at a worrying and unhealthy point. 

He added that since the 2018 general election, the country has seen three prime ministers and 39 MPs quitting their parties. 

“Generally, the action of these MPs has caused the rakyat to lose their trust in lawmakers.”

Meanwhile, opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (Port Dickson-PH), when debating, expressed hope that the constitutional amendments tabled concurrently with the anti-hopping bill. 

He also urged the government to expedite the tabling of these provisions, and suggested that a separate special sitting be held latest by the end of May. 

“I hope the special select committee deliberating the matter will hasten its meetings and find a consensus, so that we can table, debate and pass the law as soon as possible.” – The Vibes, April 11, 2022