MP: Is govt having cold feet on anti-defection law?
De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar's recent comments on uncertainties surrounding the upcoming bill to address defection among lawmakers had an opposition MP pondering aloud if Putrajaya was having cold feet.
In a statement today, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh acknowledged Wan Junaidi's concerns over...
De facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s recent comments on uncertainties surrounding the upcoming bill to address defection among lawmakers had an opposition MP pondering aloud if Putrajaya was having cold feet.
In a statement today, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh (above, right) acknowledged Wan Junaidi's concerns over various interpretations of what amounts to "party hopping", but there are certain fundamental questions that can be addressed immediately through the bill.
"Instances of individuals leaving their respective parties to join other parties in power or those who become independent but friendly to those parties in power are clear examples of individuals leaving one party to another for their own ulterior motives.
"Such clear instances of party hopping can be outlawed now by the introduction of 'anti-hopping' laws and the necessary amendments to the Federal Constitution," said Ramkarpal.
No consensus on anti-hopping term
Two days ago, Wan Junaidi told Astro Awani that there was still no consensus among lawmakers on what constitutes "anti-hopping" after several rounds of engagements with policy and lawmakers.
He said there are still about 20 questions that need to be addressed.
"That is why we must engage with all party leaders to clarify this term before the next parliamentary sitting," the minister added.
Time, however, is not on Wan Junaidi's side. The Dewan Rakyat will convene on Feb 28 with the Royal Address followed by a debate on the motion of thanks. Between March 21 and 24, the government will have four days to pass bills.
‘No objection on planned definition’
Ramkarpal, a member of the Pakatan Harapan law technical committee, has taken part in the engagement sessions hosted by Wan Junaidi and stressed that he did not see anyone objecting to the proposed definition of "party hopping".
"The claim by the law minister that there is a lack of consensus on the term 'anti-hopping' which implies that it may be difficult to finalise and pass the proposed anti-hopping law in the near future is baseless and suggests that the government is stalling on its promise to implement such a law pursuant to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) inked with the opposition last year.
"The said agreement was entered into on a strict understanding that various reforms would be implemented by the government, particularly in relation to party hopping which caused the fall of two governments since GE14," said Ramkarpal.
Echoing Harapan’s presidential council on several occasions, Ramkarpal said a failure to table the bill during the upcoming sitting of the Dewan Rakyat will warrant "rethinking" of Harapan's participation in the MOU with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Weeks after being appointed prime minister, Ismail Sabri inked the deal with Harapan promising several reforms in exchange for support from Harapan MPs until July this year.
Apart from new laws to prevent elected lawmakers from defecting, the deal also involved setting term limits for the prime minister.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.