KUCHING: Batang Lupar MP Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim has called for the Anti-Party Hopping Bill to be tabled and passed as soon as possible to ensure the credibility of the government is not eroded.
She said on the whole, it can be seen that the people want the law to be enforced before the 15th General Election (GE15).
“Therefore, the government must ensure that all differences of opinion on this law are resolved for it to be approved immediately, which is starting with the amendments today,” she said.
She said this in her debate on the Federal Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 relating to Article 10 (3) in Parliament on Monday (April 11).
Rohani also said that she and the Sarawak government, under the leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg fully support the Bill that is being tabled.
“The issue of party hopping is not a new thing in this country. Because of the action of party hopping, there was the fall of the government in Terengganu in 1962, Sarawak in 1966, Kelantan in 1977, and the federal government two years ago.
“This has caused instability to the country not only from the political aspect but also the economy and well-being of the people,” she said.
She added that the amendment to the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Act 2022 is clearly intended to enable restrictions on the right to form associations to be imposed on the Members of Parliament and state assemblymen (ADUN) where restrictions through federal law are set in relation to membership in a political party.
“With the amendment to the Federal Constitution, the tabling of the Anti-Party Hopping Bill would surely follow as urged by many of us and the people,” she said.
She went on to say that the insertion of the new clause 3(a) is intended to allow for restriction on the right to form associations relating to membership in the political parties of Dewan Rakyat members and ADUNs which may also be imposed by federal law.
“The issue here is, as long as the Federal Constitution is not amended, the tabling of the Bill related to anti-hopping cannot proceed because the law clearly states that any law that contradicts the Constitution would then automatically be null and void.
“So it is clear here that the amendment of Article 10 of the Federal Constitution is the starting point for the Anti-Party Hopping Bill to be tabled in this august House later,” said Rohani.
