States likely to amend laws to curb party hopping in line with Parliament
Following the passing of the anti-party hopping bill in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, several states are likely to amend their state constitutions to also prevent state assemblypersons from switching parties.
Malacca and Penang have already announced that they are ready to amend their state constitutions to bring the provisions in line with changes at the federal level.
Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali said...
Following the passing of the anti-party hopping bill in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, several states are likely to amend their state constitutions to also prevent state assemblypersons from switching parties.
Malacca and Penang have already announced that they are ready to amend their state constitutions to bring the provisions in line with changes at the federal level.
Malacca Chief Minister Sulaiman Md Ali said the implementation of the anti-party hopping law was part of the BN manifesto in the Malacca state election in November last year.
“I support the bill (on anti-party hopping). It has been settled in Parliament; we wait for it to be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“There is a time frame given to states to make similar amendments,” he told reporters after opening the Malacca state-level National Youth Consultative Council meeting today.
In George Town, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang would also amend its state constitution to bar state assemblypersons from switching parties.
Chow said he had directed the state legal adviser to look into this matter.
Penang would hold a special state assembly sitting in September to table amendments to the state constitution to provide for this, he told reporters today.
In Kuching, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Office (Sarawak Corporate Affairs and Public Communication Unit) Abdullah Saidol said the top leaderships of political parties in the state would discuss the possible adoption of similar laws.
Abdullah said, in principle, he supported the implementation of anti-party hopping laws for state assemblypersons in Sarawak, but a study had to be conducted first.
“If our leaders have made a final decision on all aspects of the amendments required, we can bring the matter to the state legislative assembly.
“Maybe (it can be tabled) at the state assembly sitting to be held this November,” he told reporters today.
In Seremban, Menteri Besar Aminuddin Harun said Negeri Sembilan was prepared to amend the state constitution to prevent state assemblypersons from switching parties.
However, he said the proposed amendments could not be tabled in the state assembly sitting this August because state assemblypersons needed to be given a 14-day notice on this.
“InsyaAllah (God willing), we will bring it to the next sitting, maybe in November. The state government has no problems; we see all supporting it. We welcome the result (approval of bill) as it will give confidence to voters in the 15th general election.
“It has given hope to the people, who are fed up with the act of party hopping,” he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Association of Veterinary Pathology’s 13th annual scientific conference today.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on provisions prohibiting members of Parliament from switching parties was approved by a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.
Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said 209 MPs supported the bill while 11 MPs were absent during bloc voting.
- Bernama
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