THE Dewan Rakyat today passed the anti-party hopping bill by division vote with more than two-thirds majority. 

Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said 209 lawmakers supported the bill while 11 were absent.

“Therefore it is more than two-thirds majority after the third reading and the law is passed. 

“We thank all the MPs for creating history today,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat. 

The law was passed after the third reading by de facto law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. 

He said the bill will be brought to Dewan Negara on August 9 to be endorsed and then presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be gazetted.

“All the MPs in attendance today supported the bill, we hope to have it gazetted by September 1.”

The tabling of the anti-party hopping bill is part of the memorandum of understanding between the opposition and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Earlier, Wan Junaidi said the law also applies to state assemblymen through a proposed amendment of the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution.

“This amendment allows for all state legislatures to amend their constitutions to prevent state assemblymen from jumping to other parties.

“However, the changes can only be made with the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” he said during his winding-up speech.

He was answering a question raised by Khalid Abdul Samad (Shah Alam-PH) who asked when the law will be applied to state assemblymen.

Wan Junaidi said the special committee will expedite the matter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to be brought to the Council of Rulers.

Another issue raised by the MPs was if a lawmaker were to support another party for a vote in Dewan Rakyat or any other situation – would that be considered as party-hopping.

Wan Junaidi said MPs who give their support to political parties other than the one they represent are not considered changing parties.  

“This is because the MP still remains a member of a political party which he represents.

“If the MP holds a different principle that is against the principles stated in the party’s constitution, then the MP is considered to have jumped party and would have to vacate his seat.”

He added that the constitution of a political party determines the action to be taken against the MP.

“Therefore, there is a need for an amendment to be carried out against the constitution of a political party to ensure it is consistent with this bill.”

Ismail yesterday tabled the constitutional amendments to prevent party-hopping.

Among them are the introduction of article 49A, which states the conditions for when a parliamentary seat must be vacated at once. This includes when an MP resigns from his party and when an independent lawmaker joins a party after winning a seat.

Article 48(6) is to be repealed, which has prohibited MPs from standing for election for five years if they resign their seats.

Article 160 is to be amended to redefine political parties so that coalition-hopping can also be prevented. – July 28, 2022.