PAKATAN Harapan (PH) has assured Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that all its MPs will support the tabling of the anti-hopping bill on April 11.
According to the PH presidential council this was conveyed to the prime minister during a meeting today (April 5).
“The Prime Minister also gave its commitment that there will be no changes to the notice of the special Dewan Rakyat sitting scheduled for April 11,” it said in a statement.
The joint statement was signed by PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and UPKO president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.
In March 2022, Loke had said that the anti-hopping bill will be tabled in a special Dewan Rakyat sitting held during Ramadhan.
He also said Ismail Sabri had given the assurance that he would be calling for the special sitting latest before Hari Raya Aidilfitri where the anti-hopping bill will be tabled and debated.
Last September, the Government signed an MOU with the opposition coalition to bring reforms and political stability for the nation.
Among the agreements were that the Opposition would not push for an early general election before July 31 and among the reforms included the tabling of anti-hopping laws.
A special bipartisan committee was set up to look into the suitable proposed anti-hopping laws.
In February 2022, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of law Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar assured that the proposed law would be tabled at the current Dewan Rakyat meeting which ends on Thursday (March 24).
Wan Junaidi hinted that amendments to the Federal Constitution would be done to stop party-hopping rather than passing a specific anti-hopping law for the purpose.
However, on March 19, Wan Junaidi said that the tabling of the proposed amendments would be delayed or held at a special Dewan Rakyat sitting.
Wan Junaidi said the Cabinet believes the Bill still requires further consultation through engagement sessions with other stakeholders, particularly Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional. – April 5, 2022
