KUCHING: The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2022, on prohibition of MPs party-hopping, has been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and is expected to come into force in mid-September.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the bill was presented to His Majesty two days ago and is in the process of getting his assent.
“His Majesty asked me about the bill. We have already presented it, so we will give time this week to His Majesty to examine the bill first.
“If there are matters that need to be clarified, the King will speak with the Attorney General (Tan Sri Idrus Harun) to provide further clarification on the bill.
“So I am quite confident that the implementation of the bill can be enforced in the second week of September,” he told reporters at a press conference after officiating the Program Kenduri Rakyat at Kampung Bako Hilir here on Sunday (Aug 28).
Wan Junaidi said the process of enforcing the bill involved two stages.
“The first is under Article 66 of the Federal Constitution, which is to present it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong which is already in motion.
“After that, the bill will be returned to the Attorney General’s Office and my office for us to apply again to His Majesty so that it can be enforced,” he said.
Under the bill, MPs will lose their seats if they choose to jump to another party. Exceptions will be given to MPs who are sacked by their party or if their party is dissolved or deregistered.
An MP who is elected as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker will also be exempted.
The bill will not apply to members of the Dewan Negara, as currently, senators are elected by state assemblies or through political appointment by the federal government and do not stand for public election.
