THERE is still room for improvements to the anti-hopping law, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the government remains committed to strengthening the law.
“We are open to proposals aimed at improving the anti-hopping law to enable amendments to Article 49A of the Federal Constitution,” he said in a written reply to a question by Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The anti-hopping law came into force on Sept 6, 2022, following amendments to the Constitution.
Among the main implications of the law is that an MP would lose their seat if they resign from their political party or cease to be a member of the party.
The MP will also lose the seat if they become an independent.
However, the law does not apply if an MP is sacked by the party.
There had been calls for a review, following six rogue Bersatu MPs who pledged support for Anwar.
On June 20, Bersatu submitted a notice to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, requesting the six seats be vacated.
On July 10, Johari decided that the five of the MPs need not vacate their seats although they had ceased to be Bersatu members, because the amendments to the party’s constitution were unconstitutional.
The five are Datuk Dr Zulkafperi Hanapi (Tanjung Karang), Zahari Kechik (Jeli), Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (Kuala Kangsar), Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal (Bukit Gantang) and Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (Gua Musang).
As to the fate of Labuan MP Datuk Dr Suhaili Abdul Rahman, Johari declined to make a decision as the matter is being challenged in court.
On another matter, Anwar said the policy and scope concerning the proposed law on political funding have yet to be finalised.
He said this was because the matter is still under scrutiny by the relevant bipartisan Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC).
“Following a series of meetings by the PSSC, the Bi-Partisan Parliamentary Group (BPPG) on political funding had made several proposals.
“This includes the limit on the scope of individual contributions or from political parties and determination of public funds for political parties concerning the proposed law,” he said in a written reply to a question by Ahmad Fadhli.
On Sept 8 last year, the Cabinet agreed that the scope of the proposed law would be referred to the PSSC in charge of human rights, election and institutional reforms.
