Anti-Party Hopping Enactment requires Johor Sultan's approval

BATU PAHAT - The approval of Johor Sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, is required by the Johor State Assembly before making any decision regarding the Anti-Party Hopping Enactment, according to Johor State Assembly Speaker Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.

He said that discussions must take place prior to the enactment being tabled or approved in the state assembly sitting.

However, he clarified that the upcoming sitting on Thursday will primarily focus on government and financial matters before addressing other issues.

"I am confident that leaders in the state have their own wisdom especially after Sultan Ibrahim wanted the opposition to be called as balancers.

"Therefore, each will have their own role and the other side (balancers) also likes that approach. This will make Johor harmonious and efficient.

"We have recognised them as balancers instead of the Opposition, so there will be no shouting or cursing during the state assembly sitting. We will discuss and wait for the right time," Mohd Puad told a press conference after visiting the Johor Agro People's Bazaar at the Fama Food Processing Centre, Rengit here today.

In September of last year, the Johor State Assembly rejected a proposal to establish a special state-level selection committee to review and recommend amendments to the Anti-Party Hopping Enactment.

The proposal received opposition from 37 Assemblymen, while 13 were in favor of conducting the votes.

According to Law Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, only seven states have enforced their respective State Enactments prohibiting party hopping at a state level as of February.

The states were Selangor, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Kelantan and Sarawak.