KUALA LUMPUR – The government today said it will not be able to finalise its proposed Anti-Party Hopping Bill until it is able to get feedback from the Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalitions.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that earlier engagement sessions scheduled in late-February with both coalitions were postponed on the request of both BN and PN as they wanted to focus on the Johor election.
BN won a supermajority in the March 12 polls, securing 40 of the 56 seats up for grabs.
“The cabinet decided that this bill still requires further deliberation through engagement sessions with other stakeholders, particularly Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional, to ensure the amendments get their support in the Dewan Rakyat,” Wan Junaidi said in a statement, using the Malay name for Parliament’s lower House.
Wan Junaidi, who is also Santubong MP, said once the government has completed its round of engagements and secured cabinet approval, the bill would be tabled during a special Parliament session at the prime minister’s discretion.
“The government has always been committed and will continue to be committed to bring this bill forward to ensure the political stability of the country,” he said.
On March 1, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had assured that constitutional amendments regarding the Anti-Party Hopping Bill will be presented to Parliament the following week.
This came after his meeting with opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu. – The Vibes, March 18, 2022
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