Amanah confident anti-hopping bill be tabled and passed - Salahuddin

"All that have been scheduled are on track. We are confident that in the interest of the people, the bill will be tabled and passed at the (Dewan Rakyat) sitting this time.

"We struggle in the interest of the people for an anti-hopping law to enforced to prevent their elected representatives be bought over after being given the mandate following their victory (in the General Election).

"The (Dewan Rakyat) sitting will start on Feb 28 with the opening address by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, followed by the proceeding from March 1 where the anti-hopping bill must be tabled and passed," he said after the launching of the PH+MUDA election machinery, here, today.

The MoU, also known as "Political Transformation and Stability: Between the Federal Government and Pakatan Harapan' assures that the government will not dissolve Parliament or hold the 15th General Election before July 31, 2022.

On Jan 20, last year, the government agreed to finalise and table the anti-hopping bill at the next Dewan Rakyat sitting that will start on Feb 28, in line with the suggestion of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who wants the bill to be tabled at the First Meeting, Fifth Term of the 14th Parliament in 2022.

Salahuddin said the MoU could automatically be null and void if not tabled and passed at the sitting this time and this was clearly stated in the MoU.

"It's right, as I am a member of the MoU coordinating committee. This is stated (in the MoU) and it's fundamental. The (anti-hopping) bill is among the major matters (outlined) in the MoU.

"If this bill is not tabled and passed at the coming Dewan Rakyat sitting, PH will immediately withdraw its support for the MoU. That is clear," he added.

Earlier, PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his speech, said that some matters in the MoU had been outlined such as the additional allocation of RM45 billion to solve the COVID-19 problem and RM10 billion for poverty eradication, as well as the Undi18 and anti-hopping bill.

"We (PH) have conveyed to (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that the MoU could not be sustained if the (anti-hopping) bill is not passed during the coming parliamentary session which will end in March. If agreed upon, the discussion can continue or otherwise, the MoU is automatically cancelled," said Anwar, who is also the PKR president.

Besides Ismail Sabri who signed the MoU on behalf of the government, the signatories were Anwar, for PKR; Kota Raja MP and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu; Bagan MP and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng; and Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, who is also United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO) president.