By Chris Bishop and Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 28: The Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill that prohibits Members of Parliament (MPs) from switching parties has been presented to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah for his royal assent.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar informed that the King had just recently returned from an official visit to Turkey.
“Let us give the King some time (to rest), at least a week or so. Even if a week has passed, let us not (put pressure). Let the King take time to examine the Bill first.
“If he has any queries on the Bill, he will call for the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to give further explanation on the Bill,” he told reporters during the Kenduri Rakyat programme at Kampung Bako Hilir today.
Wan Junaidi, also Santubong MP, is optimistic that the Bill will take effect on the second week of next month.
“There’s two stages (of implementation). The first is to obtain the King’s consent under Article 66 of the Federal Constitution.
“After that, the Bill will be returned to us, and the Ministry, together with the AGC, will request for the King’s consent again for the Bill to take effect,” he added.
On July 28, the Bill, commonly known as an ‘anti-party hopping bill’, was passed in Parliament. — DayakDaily
