KUALA LUMPUR – The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 2022 that relates to anti-party hopping will only come into force on a date set by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong by notification in the federal gazette.
The amendment received royal assent on August 31 and published in the federal gazette on September 6.
Similarly, provisions under the same law relating to assemblymen may come into force with the consent of the state's respective ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
Commonly known as the anti-hopping law, the act was passed in the Dewan Rakyat on July 28, with 209 lawmakers voting in its favour. Eleven parliamentarians were absent during the bloc voting process.
The law was unanimously passed at the Dewan Negara during a special sitting on August 9.
The call for a comprehensive anti-hopping law preventing lawmakers from easily switching political allegiances was borne from the Sheraton Move that toppled the elected Pakatan Harapan administration in late February 2020.
Under the bill, MPs who party-hop will have to vacate their seats, and by-elections will then be held to elect new representatives.
The bill, however, stipulates several exceptions, including MPs who are fired from their parties, and if a party is disbanded or cancels its registration.
MPs who are later appointed as Dewan Rakyat speaker will not be considered as party-hoppers. – The Vibes, September 8, 2022
