KUALA LUMPUR – The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 2022 that relates to anti-party hopping will be in force tomorrow following the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, said Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The amendment received royal assent on August 31 and was published in the federal gazette on September 6.
The move comes ahead of the dissolution of Parliament, rumoured to be announced in the coming days, to pave the way for a general election.
In a press conference today, Wan Junaidi said the coming into force of the constitutional amendment will allow the respective amendments that have been passed in both Houses of Parliament to take effect immediately.
“Whoever wants to ‘jump’, will have to do it tonight. Although I’m confident that no one will do so tonight.
“The amendment takes effect the first minute after midnight today. Remember that, it is not tomorrow morning.”
Wan Junaidi said the prime minister will write to all the states to streamline their constitutions with the federal amendment and for the anti-hopping law to be applied to all assemblymen.
The federal gazette published last month said the constitutional provisions under the same law relating to assemblymen may come into force with the consent of the state ruler or Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
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 jump parties 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 speakers will not be considered as party hoppers. – The Vibes, October 4, 2022
