Anti-party hopping bill finalised, to be tabled on July 18

The draft of the bill to amend the Federal Constitution to enable the prevention of party-hopping among MPs has been finalised and is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on July 18.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said this was decided by the parliamentary special select committee on the matter at a meeting today.

He said the committee also proposed that the bill be debated in the Dewan Rakyat on July 27 and 28, subject to the discretion of the speaker.

"The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 and provisions prohibiting MPs from party-hopping, as well as the report by the parliamentary special select committee, will be placed on the tables of the MPs for their reference on July 18," he said in a statement.
 
He said the meeting also proposed a timeline for engagement by the Legal Affairs Division and the Attorney-General's Chambers with government MPs on July 25 and with opposition MPs on July 26.

It also proposed that the engagement with members of the Senate be held on Aug 8 with the first reading in the Senate on Aug 9, followed by the second reading on Aug 10.

Wan Junaidi said after the bill had been passed by the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, it would be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong between Aug 11 and 26 for consent before being gazetted between Aug 29 and Sept 2.