Anti-hopping Bill brought to Dewan Rakyat by PM for second reading

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KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-hopping Bill which penalises party-hopping elected representatives was finally brought to the Dewan Rakyat by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob (pic) on Wednesday (July 27) morning.

The Bill was tabled for its Second Reading by Ismail Sabri in Parliament.

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Ismail Sabri said there were several engagement sessions with stakeholders held from Nov 11 last year up till April 10 this year.

The Bera MP said the government takes into account concerns raised by MPs during a special sitting on April 11 that saw the tabling of the Bill for its First Reading.

ALSO READ: Anti-Party Hopping Bill: Debate on July 27, says Wan Junaidi

“The Bill was later amended to ensure that it fulfils the expectations of everyone,” said Ismail Sabri in Parliament on Wednesday (July 27).

MPs from all sides of the divide are set to debate on the proposed Bill later Wednesday.

ALSO READ: Cabinet approves anti-party hopping Bill, to be tabled in Parliament on July 18

Ismail Sabri also congratulated Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar for his role in the drafting of the anti-party hopping Bill

Earlier in the House, Wan Junaidi said a detailed report on the Bill was placed on the tables of MPs on July 18, the first day of the current sitting.

ALSO READ: Anti-hopping Bill to become law

This is the first time that a detailed report was tabled to allow MPs to scrutinise the drafting of the Bill.

Last month, Wan Junaidi said the Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 on preventing party-hopping will be tabled when the Dewan Rakyat begins its meeting on July 18.

ALSO READ: Anti-hop law: Bill ready for tabling in Parliament, says Azalina

The Bill was initially slated to be tabled in March this year, but it was deferred to a special one-day sitting on April 11.

However, on April 11, there was a hiccup on the tabling of the bill following resistance from all sides of the political divide, as MPs were concerned on the definition of party-hopping and potential abuse of the law.

The Bill was later referred to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) for further scrutiny from MPs.

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