THE anti-party hopping Bill sends a “clear message” to all lawmakers to hold on to the principles of the political parties they represent and to uphold the mandate bestowed upon them by voters, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
While tabling the Constitution (Amendment)(No.3) Bill 2022 for the second reading yesterday, Ismail Sabri said the Bill aimed to ensure political stability and prevent the country from undergoing a never-ending political crisis.
Ismail Sabri (BN-Bera) said the government viewed “defection”, “party jumping” and “floor crossing” – which have created public debate recently – seriously.
“This is because it involves the mandate and confidence of the people who chose them to represent them in the Dewan Rakyat,” he said.
“The Bill is a historic moment for the country because it was established through negotiations and discussions by both the Opposition and Federal Government.”
He said that the tabling of the Bill was as historic as the amendment to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 which had earned the full support of “big-hearted” parliamentarians.
He said he hoped this Bill too would be passed with unanimous support, adding that it needed two-thirds of the House – or a minimum of 148 votes – to pass the Bill.
Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said about 600 minutes had been allocated for the debate on the Bill. The amendment comprises four paragraphs and six clauses.
Among them is a clause that MPs who defect from the political party they represented as election candidates or become Independent later would have to vacate their parliamentary seats.
However, there are exemptions for MPs who change political parties when their former parties have been deregistered, or if they are appointed to become Speakers of the House.
MPs who are sacked from political parties will not lose their seats.
The third reading is expected to take place today.
