Anti-hopping laws finally tabled at Dewan Rakyat

SHAH ALAM - The much awaited constitutional amendment bill to introduce an "enabling clause" to stop politicians from jumping parties was tabled at the Dewan Rakyat today.

De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar tabled the bill during a special sitting held today.

“Article 3A - Notwithstanding paragraph (c) of Clause (2) and Clause (3), restrictions on the right to form associations conferred by paragraph (c) of Clause (1) relating to membership in a political party of members of the House of Representatives and members of the State Legislative Assembly may also be imposed by federal law,” Wan Junaidi said.

He further said that the bill not to be voted in today, and that a second reading will be discussed at the Parliamentary Select Committee.

In his speech, Wan Junaidi added that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob has had meetings with Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders and they decided on three issues. The first on the definition of defection that must be defined in the bill.

Secondly, Article 48(6) which disqualifies those who resigned as an MP from being a member again for five years.

The last issue discussed was to prevent lawmakers from switching parties. 60 MPs will be debating the bill later today.

39 MPs have switch parties since 2018 polls

Wan Junaidi also said that since 2018, 39 MPs have jumped ships and the country has seen three different prime ministers.

“This is a clear sign which shows the unhealthy state of our democracy and it is worrying,” he added.

Since December last year, Wan Junaidi and law drafters had been engaging MPs to formulate a comprehensive law that will deal with political instability and to curb politicians from switching parties.

The bill was initially scheduled to be tabled on March 21, it was postponed to April 11.