Anti-party hopping law to be enforced before GE15, says law minister

The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 2022 prohibiting MPs from switching parties will come into force soon, ahead of the 15th general election (GE15), says Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said the act, which has obtained the consent of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, however does not yet have a specific date of enforcement.

"The act will come into force before GE15. So just be patient. I will announce it when the time comes," he said when asked whether the act would be enforced if Parliament is dissolved ahead of time.

Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat was told that the Agong had given his consent to 14 laws including the Constitution (Amendment) Act (No. 3) 2022, which were passed during the Second Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 14th Parliament.
 
Wan Junaidi said Budget 2023 would also be tabled as scheduled this Friday.

He said the government is committed to ensuring that the bills that have been drafted, including the Penal Code (Amendment) Bill 2022, the Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill 2022 and the Dangerous Drugs (Amendment) Bill 2022 relating to the abolition of the mandatory death penalty, will be brought up for first and second readings at this Parliament session.