PUTRAJAYA: A consensus has been reached on most policy matters regarding the drafting of the Anti-Party Hopping Bill.
Minister in Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Parliament) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Parliamentary Special Select Committee set up to make recommendations to amend the Federal Constitution with regard to stopping MPs from switching political parties, reached the consensus at a meeting on Thursday (May 12).
He said written submissions were also sought from non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), political parties and academicians on the framework of the drafting of the Amendment Bill No. 3, 2022.
“This meeting will examine the written opinions before the Bill can be finalised,” Wan Junaidi, who is the chairman of the select committee, said in a statement yesterday.
He said all proceedings would be recorded in a statement in line with Meeting Rule 80(1) before being presented to the special committee members for approval being tabled and debated during a special parliamentary session next month.
The Bill would be tabled and debated by MPs and senators at a date to be determined later.
Wan Junaidi said the committee would meet again on May 19 to examine the draft Bill prepared by the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
He said the draft Bill would also be presented to the Steering Committee on Transformation and Political Stability.
According to the motion tabled during the Dewan Rakyat special sitting on April 11, the committee was given one month to prepare a statement.
However, he said the committee could extend the period for tabling the statement in Parliament under the same motion to refine the draft Bill and the parliamentary statement.
Wan Junaidi said the performance of the committee was encouraging, and had received support from all members, including cooperation from Parliament, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister’s Department and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Other members of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang), Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas), Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut), Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Bharu), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Sibuti), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Sepang), Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution (Kulim-Bandar Baharu) and Datuk Ignatius Dorell Leiking (Penampang).
