PERIKATAN Nasional has backed the government’s decision to delay the anti-party hopping bill, which had been slated to go before Parliament on April 11.

In a statement, coalition secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said the decision was responsible and wise.

“Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar engaged with PN parties about the anti-party hopping bill on April 4 and PN as a whole supported the amendments to the Federal Constitution needed to pass the bill.”

“In order for the amendments to reach their objective, a thorough study of the phrase ‘hopping’ must be conducted.

“On April 6, the cabinet agreed to first amend clause 10(3) of the constitution to allow MPs to enact a specific act on anti-party hopping.”

“PN is aware of the government’s intention to table a motion to amend the constitution in a special sitting on April 11. The government has acted responsibly on this issue,” he said.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also approved of the decision, saying there is no need to rush.

“This law needs to be scrutinised. No need to hurry. PAS is not in a hurry,” he told the media this morning.

Yesterday, Wan Junaidi said the term “party-hopping” needs more study.

He said the special sitting will go ahead with the tabling of a constitutional amendment to facilitate the bill at a later date.

Wan Junaidi expressed frustration over the cabinet’s decision to defer the bill for a second time, saying that he has been working on it for eight months.

Prior to Wan Junaidi’s announcement, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob gave assurances to the opposition that Parliament would sit to debate the bill on April 11. – April 8, 2022.