LAW Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is frustrated over the cabinet’s decision to defer the tabling of the anti-party hopping bill. 

He said the frustration stems from the cabinet decision and that he has been working on the bill for eight months. 

“Personally, I’m frustrated with the cabinet’s decision to postpone the tabling of the bill. I have been working on the bill for eight months. 

“However, as a cabinet member, I have to agree with the decision,” he told reporters after a meeting with the steering committee for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on transformation and political stability. 

Wan Junaidi, however, denied there was any “political sabotage” in delaying the tabling of the bill.

He said certain quarters in the government had disagreed with the contents of the bill that was to be tabled on April 11.

Earlier today, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi criticised Putrajaya for deferring the bill, saying the federal government lacks the political will and seriousness to do so.

He claimed this has frustrated Malaysians, who have been waiting for the law to be implemented – a frustration stemming from their loss of mandate when elected leaders jumped parties.

Zahid also said the deferment is also a blow to Pakatan Harapan (PH), which signed a memorandum of understanding with the government.

“I have already stated that the agreement between PH and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob needs to be re-evaluated as it seems that they are not firm in getting the bill passed.”

Wan Junaidi yesterday said the reason for the deferment was that the “party-hopping” definition needs more study.

He said that the special parliamentary sitting will go ahead with the tabling of a constitutional amendment to facilitate the bill at a later date. – April 7, 2022.