States likely to amend laws to prevent assemblymen from switching parties

MELAKA: Following the passing of the bill on anti-party hopping in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, 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.

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 today.

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 today.

The Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on provisions prohibiting Members of Parliament 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.

In KUCHING, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier's Office (Sarawak Corporate Affairs and Public Communication Unit) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said the top leaderships of political parties in the state would discuss the possible adoption of similar laws.

Abdullah said in principle he supported the implementation of anti-party hopping laws for state assemblymen in Sarawak but a study had to be conducted first.

"If our leaders have made a final decision on all aspects of the amendments required, we can bring the matter to the State Legislative Assembly.

"Maybe (it can be tabled) at the State Assembly sitting to be held this November," he told reporters today.

In SEREMBAN, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said Negeri Sembilan was prepared to amend the state constitution to prevent state assemblymen from switching parties.

However, he said the proposed amendments could not be tabled in the State Assembly sitting this August because state assemblymen needed to be given a 14-day notice on this.

"InsyaAllah (God willing), we will bring it to the next sitting, maybe in November. The state government has no problems; we see all supporting it. We welcome the result (approval of bill) as it will give confidence to voters in the 15th general election.

"It has given hope to the people, who are fed up with the act of party hopping," he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Association of Veterinary Pathology's 13th annual scientific conference today.

-- BERNAMA