States likely to amend laws to prevent assemblymen from hopping as well

MELAKA: Following the passing of the anti-hopping Bill by a more than two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat Thursday (July 28), several states are likely to amend their state constitutions to also prevent state assemblymen from switching parties.

Melaka and Penang have already announced that they are ready to amend their state constitutions to bring the provisions in line with changes at the federal level.

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Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali said the implementation of the anti-party hopping law was part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto in the Melaka state election in November last year.

"I support the bill (on anti-party hopping). It has been settled in Parliament; we wait for it to be presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

"There is a time frame given to states to make similar amendments,” he told reporters after opening the Melaka state-level National Youth Consultative Council meeting here Friday (July 29).

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In GEORGE TOWN, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Penang would also amend its state constitution to bar state assemblymen from switching parties.

Chow said he had directed the state legal adviser to look into this matter.

Penang would hold a special State Assembly sitting in September to table amendments to the state constitution to provide for this, he told reporters Friday.

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The Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on provisions prohibiting MPs from switching parties was approved by a two-thirds majority in the Dewan Rakyat.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said 209 MPs supported the Bill while 11 MPs were absent during bloc voting. - Bernama