Wan Junaidi: Bill on anti-hopping laws expedited and expected to be tabled next month

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-hopping laws are expected to be tabled in Parliament next month, says Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic).

"It was decided that a Bill on anti-hopping laws, which is being finalised, will be tabled in the coming Parliament meeting which begins on Feb 28," the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said in a statement on Thursday (Jan 20).

He said the move came after calls by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to speed up the tabling of the Bill.

Previously, Wan Junaidi announced that the Bill would be tabled in Parliament this coming July after taking into account the time needed for feedback on the matter.

Wan Junaidi, who is in charge of Parliament and Law, said the Prime Minister wanted a bi-partisan technical group set up for the purpose.

The Committee to Drive Transformation and Political Stability, he said, would comprise four representatives from the government and opposition.

"The committee will meet next week to look into the policy and framework of the proposed Bill," he said.

Anti-hopping laws are among the areas of reforms which are to be carried out following the memorandum of understanding signed in September last year between the government and Pakatan Harapan to ensure political stability for the nation.

There have been calls of anti-hopping laws, particularly after the fall of Pakatan's 22-month administration in February 2020, following defections of several MPs.

Other reforms included amending the Federal Constitution to restore equal status for Sarawak and Sabah and limiting the tenure of the prime minister to a maximum of two terms.