KUCHING, April 11: The federal government and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have reached an agreement to refine the definitions of restrictions for elected representatives to switch parties as stated in Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that was one of the three points both parties have agreed on at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri Yaakob this morning.
The meeting also reached a consensus to abolish Article 48(6) which states a person who resigns his membership of the Dewan Rakyat shall be disqualified from being a member of the Dewan Rakyat for a period of five years, and other amendments which were deemed necessary and to formulate a specific law to prevent members of Dewan Rakyat from switching parties.
“These points will be submitted for discussion and consideration by a special bi-partisan select committee appointed by the House later,” he said when tabling the Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
The amendment to Article 10 seeks to insert Clause 3A after Clause 3 for restrictions on the right to form associations conferred by paragraph (c) of Clause (1) relating to membership in a political party of members of the Dewan Rakyat.
Members of the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) are also to be subjected to federal law.
The amendment would also provide an enabling clause to allow a specific anti-party hopping law to be formulated and approved in Parliament.
A total of 49 Members of Parliament have switched parties since the 14th General Election which led the country to face political instability and see three different Prime Ministers appointment over three years. — DayakDaily
