KUALA LUMPUR – The government is studying the implementation of laws related to party hopping, says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The law minister said the government is also looking into anti-hopping laws in several countries, such as in India, Singapore, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
“The findings of the study will be discussed through a bipartisan engagement session,” he said at the Dewan Negara here today.
He was responding to a question from senator N. Balasubramaniam, who wanted to know the government’s readiness to introduce an anti-hopping law.
Wan Junaidi said the government is committed to ensuring any anti-party hopping law enacted will protect the rights of the voting public who put their trust in politicians during elections.
“The government will also ensure that comprehensive engagement sessions are held with stakeholders, non-governmental organisations (NGO), MPs from the government and opposition and the public to ensure the new bill receives support from all parties,” he said.
Responding to a supplementary question from Senator Datuk A.Kesavadas on the engagement sessions with foreign legal experts to draft the anti-hopping law, Wan Junandi said there is no necessity to do so as the country has sufficient expertise on the matter.
“However, we use the legal models of other countries so that we can study their weakness and strength, as well as evaluate from our own constitutional point of view and the needs of our people.” – Bernama, October 18, 2021
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