States under the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration have been told to amend their respective state laws or enactments after the landmark anti-party hopping bill was passed last Thursday in parliament, Ahmad Maslan said today.

The Umno secretary-general said he will discuss with the party’s legal advisers on the clauses in the constitution that needs to be amended.

“In line with the passing of the anti-party hopping bill, we might need to amend Umno’s constitution again but for that, we will need to consult our legal advisers first,” the Pontian MP told reporters after attending the party’s Supreme Council meeting at its headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 regarding the provision prohibiting MPs from jumping parties was passed by the Dewan Rakyat last week and stipulates the vacancy of a parliamentary seat if a lawmaker joins another party.

However, the law also gives the party a way to sack elected representatives who disobey instructions, resulting in immediate seat vacancies.

Yesterday, DAP proposed an amendment to the party’s constitution that could strip MPs or state assemblymen who do not follow the party’s key decisions, through a special congress on September 25.

Ahmad also said that the party has ordered its machineries across the country to start preparing for the 15th general election (GE15), which he claimed could be held anytime soon.

He, however, did not disclose further details about the date for GE15, when pressed by reporters.

“The meeting was two hours long. If everything was to be recorded, it would be a book.

“So, I’m just going to speak about matters stated in the press statement,” he said.

Ahmad added that party polls are usually held after a general election.

He cited the GE14 as a precedent and claimed it will be followed for GE15.

“Party polls were held after GE14. So, now the party polls will be held after GE15, no later than six months after the GE,” he said.

On July 29, Ahmad said the Registrar of Societies approved Umno’s application to amend its constitution to allow for the postponement of its party polls.

Meanwhile, the Pontian MP also said that the members of the Supreme Council have today decided that the Umno general assembly will be held from November 23 till 26.

He added that there will be not be any election for positions at all levels at this time. – August 4, 2022.