PUTRAJAYA should speed up the tabling of the anti-party hopping bill to prove that it is serious about reform, said the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih).

Its steering committee said the tabling of the bill is crucial in keeping with the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the government and opposition.

“We urge Putrajaya to table the bill as soon as possible in this parliamentary session to convince the public that it is committed to the agreement signed with the opposition.”

Bersih was responding to Utusan Malaysia’s March 13 report, which quoted a Prime Minister’s Department source as saying that the tabling of the bill will be postponed.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month said the bill will be tabled in Dewan Rakyat this week, and that he was given the assurance by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

“The prime minister promised to table the bill, but the government does not deny the statement (Utusan report),” said Bersih.

“We view the postponement of the tabling of the bill with disappointment and grave concern.

“The MOU on political transformation signed between Pakatan Harapan and the government states that this reform should be implemented no later than the first sitting of the 5th Session of Parliament.”

The bill should be sent to a parliamentary select committee for review after the first reading to obtain input from all stakeholders through a transparent and participatory process, it added.

“During the Malacca polls in November, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi promised that they will table an anti-party hopping law at the state-level to ‘strengthen political stability in the state’.

“During the recent Johor polls, former menteri besar Hasni Mohammad also promised, as part of their manifesto, that an anti-party hopping law will be Barisan Nasional’s top priority if it won.”

Bersih said given that the coalition promised to enact the law at the state-level and won in both states, Putrajaya – of which the coalition is a part – should not delay tabling the bill. – March 15, 2022.