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KUALA LUMPUR – The Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on the Anti-Hopping Law will get its first look at the draft bill next week, as the country inches ever closer to outlawing party defections.
De facto Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the document prepared by the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) will be deliberated by the committee in a meeting on May 19.
The draft bill will also be presented to the bipartisan Transformation and Political Stability Steering Committee.
He said the AGC prepared the document after obtaining feedback, and following the PSC’s decision on all policy-related matters and the interpretation of the law.
“My hope is that the bill will be tabled in a special parliamentary sitting under Standing Order 11(3) of the Dewan Rakyat with the discretion of the prime minister and the consideration of the cabinet,” he said in a statement today, following the PSSC's latest meeting yesterday.
Wan Junaidi, who chairs the select committee, said members have reached a consensus on almost all policy matters pertaining to the formulation of the bill.
He added that the PSSC has also obtained several written submissions from NGOs, civil society organisations, political parties, and academics on the parameters of the law.
“The committee will scrutinise these written submissions before the bill is finalised,” he said.
In a special parliamentary sitting on April 11, Wan Junaidi had said that the Lower House would not vote on the proposed law as initially planned, with the PSSC to be set up instead to deliberate and iron out all matters concerning the legislation.
This came after certain lawmakers, including some from the government, expressed disapproval at the law at its current state, including what defines party-hopping.
The April sitting was meant to amend Article 10 of the federal constitution to include an enabling clause to allow for a specific piece of anti-hopping legislation to be enacted in the future.
The PSSC has been given a month to present its findings to Parliament. but has the autonomy to decide whether a deadline extension would be required.
Wan Junaidi said the committee, at present, will continue to carry out its duty before tabling the final bill in both houses of Parliament on a date to be determined soon.
Other than Wan Junaidi, the other members of the PSSC are Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (Pengerang-BN), Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz (Padang Rengas-BN), Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (Larut-Bersatu), Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (Kota Baru-PAS), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (Sibuti-GPS), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong-PH), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (Sepang-PH), Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran-PH), Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution (Kulim Bandar Baharu-PH), and Datuk Ignatius Darell Leiking (Penampang-Warisan). – The Vibes, May 13, 2022