Wan Junaidi to hold further talks with MPs on proposed anti-hopping laws

PETALING JAYA: The government is set to have a second round of briefings and consultations with MPs next week on the proposed legislation on anti-hopping by politicians and a term limit for the prime minister.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he would be meeting MPs on the proposed legislation on Feb 9 – the second following a similar session held on Dec 22 last year.

"We also expect to hear proposals on further constitutional amendments," an unnamed MP told Malaysiakini.

The report added that MPs have been invited to attend the event by Wan Junaidi.

On Jan 29, the minister was reported to have said that a study on limiting the tenure of the prime minister to 10 years as well as one on anti-hopping laws was presented during an engagement session with leaders of all political parties on Dec 22 last year.

The report quoted Wan Junaidi as telling staff of the Legal Affairs Division that an early draft of the amendments to the Federal Constitution was being reviewed by political parties.

Last year, Wan Junaidi told Parliament that the government would launch two surveys to obtain public feedback before it introduced legislation to limit a prime minister's term to 10 years and to prevent elected representatives from defecting to other political parties.

Recently, the minister also said that anti-hopping laws were expected to be tabled in Parliament next month.

The Dewan Rakyat will convene its first meeting of the year from Feb 28 to March 24.

In September last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced a slew of reforms including limiting the prime minister's term to 10 years and introducing anti-hopping laws.

The proposals are part of the memorandum of understanding that Pakatan Harapan signed with Ismail Sabri's government soon after he became Prime Minister following Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's resignation in August last year.