PETALING JAYA: The recently passed anti-hopping law is just two steps away from being enforceable by mid-September, said Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic).
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) said that although the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 was passed by Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, consent and a date of enforcement are still needed from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for it to become law.
“As a follow-up action, the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) will initiate the process to seek the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong in line with Article 66 of the Federal Constitution.
“Following this, an order for a date of enforcement of the provisions will be presented to the King to set an enforcement date based on Clause 1 of the Bill,” he said in a press statement issued yesterday.
He added that the anti-hopping Bill should come into effect by the middle of next month once the process is completed.
Dewan Rakyat passed the constitutional amendments for the anti-party hopping law on July 28 while Dewan Negara passed the proposed amendments on Tuesday.
Both Houses secured more than the two-thirds majority required for the constitutional amendments.
The amendments comprise four paragraphs and six clauses.
Among them is a clause that Members of Parliament who defect from the political party they represented as election candidates or those who become Independent will have to vacate their parliamentary seats.
However, there are exemptions for MPs who change political parties when their former parties have been deregistered or if they are appointed to become Speakers of the House.
MPs who are sacked from political parties will not lose their seats.
Also not affected by the law are MPs who vote against their party’s wishes.
Meanwhile, Wan Junaidi explained that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will only write to the mentris besar and chief ministers in all states informing them of the amendments upon receiving the royal assent.
He also said that state leaders will be advised to change their state constitutions to adopt the federal law against hopping, which is in line with Article 71 of the Federal Constitution.
“The Federal Government hopes that all states will adopt the proposed provisions to ensure that political stability is maintained,” he added.
He stated that this will allow the system to be standardised not only at the federal but also at state level.