Law minister lists three criteria for anti-hopping law

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Amend anti-hopping bill to plug sacking ‘loophole’, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR: An opposition MP has called on the prime minister to amend the anti-hopping bill, which was tabled for a second reading this morning, to include a provision regarding parliamentarians who are sacked from the party.

Loke Siew Fook (PH-Seremban) said currently, MPs who were sacked would not lose their seats but the party itself would.

This, he said, was a “loophole”.

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Don’t let ‘party-hoppers’ defend their seats, says Ahmad Maslan

KUALA LUMPUR: MPs who trigger a by-election when they switch to another party should be barred from defending their seats, says Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian).

While debating the anti-hopping bill in the Dewan Rakyat, he said he had been pushing for this since 2018 when he spoke in favour of the anti-hopping law.

Under the bill tabled by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob earlier today, any MP who decides to switch allegiance after being elected will automatically have their seat vacated, triggering a by-election.

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Dewan Rakyat passes anti-hopping bill

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat has unanimously passed the historic anti-hopping bill through a bloc vote.

A total of 209 MPs voted in favour of the bill. Eleven MPs were absent when the voting took place.

The bill was passed after debates yesterday and today involving 54 MPs. It was tabled for its second reading by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday.

It passed the second and third reading today.

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History speaks for itself: Guan Eng shoots down Bersatu’s Sheraton Move justification

KUALA LUMPUR – Lim Guan Eng (Bagan-PH) had scoffed at a Bersatu lawmaker’s attempt at justifying the party’s decision to quit Pakatan Harapan (PH) in 2020 after the latter claimed it was for the sake of the rakyat.

Responding to Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof (Alor Gajah-Bersatu), the DAP national chairman said history speaks for itself, after the former said that critics often fail to understand the ideology and motivation for Bersatu’s defection during the infamous Sheraton Move.

Interjecting Lim’s speech during his debate on the anti-party hopping bill today, Redzuan said “betrayals” do not only happen because lawmakers were driven by power and position.

“Sometimes, they feel there is a need to understand betrayals over the long term,” Redzuan said in the Dewan Rakyat.

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No need for Sarawak to enact anti-hopping law: PBB veep

MIRI – The Sarawak government will not have to enact its own anti-hopping bill as matters pertaining to public elections are federal laws, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah.

The senior Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader said the state government is currently waiting for the bill to be gazetted in order for it to be enforced.

“Since the bill passed unanimously, it shows a common sentiment on the matter among the MPs which is really good.

“As such, if any individuals plan on contesting under a party banner, they should opt to remain with that party rather than jumping ship halfway.

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Don’t block anti-hopping bill, Bersih tells senators

PETALING JAYA: Electoral reform group Bersih has urged senators not to block the anti-hopping bill that will be tabled for its second reading and debated tomorrow.

The group made the call following reports that 12 Bersatu senators might block the bill due to growing tensions between the party and Umno.

“Political developments between Umno and Bersatu that have been happening since last week should not derail the passage of the anti-hopping amendments,” said the group’s steering committee in a statement.

“Bersih warns the senators to put national interest before that of their party’s.”

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Dewan Negara unanimously passes historic anti-party hopping bill

KUALA LUMPUR – The historic anti-party hopping law inches closer to being implemented after the Dewan Negara unanimously passed the amendment bill today.

A total of 52 senators voted for the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 in both the second and third readings, while seven were absent from the House during voting, according to Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim.

The constitutional amendment to outlaw party-hopping required a two-third majority to be passed.

Today’s successful vote comes less than two weeks after the Dewan Rakyat similarly passed the bill with all 209 MPs present backing the law, while 11 others – including top leaders of political parties – were not present.

The bill now only needs to be assented to by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong before being gazetted as federal law.

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