Hold special Parliament sitting to discuss anti-party hopping law, says Pakatan

PETALING JAYA: A special Parliamentary session should be immediately called by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss the proposed anti-party hopping law, says Pakatan Harapan’s presidential council.

Pakatan’s presidential council also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had committed on numerous occasions to debate the bill in Parliament.

"Therefore, the promise must be fulfilled," said PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic), Parti Amanah Negara President Mohamad Sabu, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and Upko president Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau in a joint statement on Thursday (May 26) night.

De facto law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar had said the anti-party hopping bill was expected to be tabled in the coming Parliamentary meeting in July.

Wan Junaidi said the proposed law would not affect MPs who were expelled from their political party as the proposed provisions would only apply to MPs who decided to quit their party to become an independent or switch allegiance to another party.

If an MP left their party under the conditions provided for by the law, this would then trigger a by-election in the constituency, of which the said MP would be allowed to seek re-election.

In their statement, the Pakatan presidential council said the sitting should also discuss problems faced by the people, especially the rising cost of living and inflation.

It added that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe into alleged corruption and irregularities in Covid-19 related procurement should also be discussed.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and his predecessor Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba had said they were ready to assist with the MACC’s investigations.