Anti-hopping Bill: Special select committee always been chaired by minister, says Wan Junaidi

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has denied claims that the parliamentary special select committee (PSSC) set up to into the drafting of the anti-hopping Bill would not be independent.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Department said that such PSSCs have always been chaired by a minister unlike other parliamentary select committees (PSC) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is currently headed by an opposition MP.

"I would like to stress that the issue is not who chairs the PSSC but whether the chairman has sufficient knowledge and experience to steer the discussion in a proper direction.

"It is also not about the ability to draft laws but it’s about the acceptability of the drafted Bill," he said in a statement on Wednesday (April 20).

Wan Junaidi, who is in charge of Parliament and Law, was responding to recent claims raised by former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof, questioning the formation and independence of the PSSC.

Ariff, who was appointed speaker during Pakatan Harapan’s administration, suggested that the PSSC should be headed by an opposition MP akin to the PAC.

"The independence of the PSSC can also be questioned if it’s chaired by the opposition.

"Ultimately it’s the responsibility we have to our country to ensure a proper law is drafted that is ‘fit for purpose’ and will benefit the rakyat," he said.

On April 11, Dewan Rakyat passed a motion to set up the PSSC to scrutinise proposed Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 aimed at paving the way for anti-hopping laws to be tabled in Parliament.

The committee will be headed by Wan Junaidi and consist of 10 other MPs, namely Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (BN-Pengerang), Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz (BN-Padang Rengas), and Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (PN-Larut).

Others are Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), Lukanisman Awang Sauni (GPS-Sibuti), Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Puchong), Mohamed Hanipa Maidin (PH-Sepang), Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (PH-Tuaran), Datuk Seri Saifudin Nasution (PH-Kulim), and Datuk Ignatius Dorell Leiking (Warisan-Penampang).

Wan Junaidi, who is former Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker, also said that the powers of the PSSC derived from a motion passed by Parliament while the powers of the PAC came under Standing Order 77.

The anti-party-hopping Bill is expected to be tabled in the coming Parliament session that begins from July 18 to Aug 4.