KUCHING: There is no need to hold a special sitting for the proposed Anti-Party Hopping Bill as it will be tabled in Parliament on July 18, says Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) explained that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had decided — as head of the House — that there was no need for the government to hold a special one-day Parliament sitting to table the Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill related to prohibition on switching parties by members of the Dewan Rakyat.
In a statement on Thursday (June 9), he pointed out on several reasons for the Prime Minister’s decision.
Among them were the cost of holding the special sitting and the absence of MPs, who will be abroad on official work.
“Overall, the total cost to be borne by the government is about RM1.07mil, excluding operating costs, if a special sitting of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara is held.
“Besides, several MPs will be overseas if the meeting is held in the first week of July as proposed by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).
“For example, two Select Committees will go abroad in early July until mid-July 2022, namely the Finance and Economic Select Committee and the Security Select Committee.”
Wan Junaidi said the proposed Bill would be tabled at the forthcoming meeting and assured that ample time would be given to debate and pass the proposed law. “This cannot be done if a special sitting is held.”
