By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, July 9: The much-anticipated Anti-Party Hopping Bill will be tabled in Parliament this July 18.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said there is no need for the Federal government to hold a special one-day Parliament sitting just to table the Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill because the the Second Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 14th Parliament is just nine days away.
The Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill is related to prohibiting members of Parliament to switch parties.
“I am confident that there will be no more obstacles or arguments on the draft. They will be given time to debate and pass the law.
“Therefore, I am optimistic we can get approval from all the members of Parliament so the law can be gazetted as soon as possible,” Wan Junaidi told reporters after handing over 66 cows for Hari Raya Qurban at the Animal Quarantine Station in Jalan Bako today.
Earlier in April, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the Anti-Party Hopping Bill will be the key part of the memorandum of understanding signed between Federal government and Pakatan Harapan.
Meanwhile, on the issue of raising price of goods and cost of living in Malaysia, Wan Junaidi said there is no need to hold a special Parliament sitting for it.
“This can be discussed in the upcoming Parliament sitting which is already very near.
“Apart from that, it is going to be very costly to call all the Members of Parliament (MP), its officers and so on just to meet for one separate day,” he asserts.
It is understood that the government will have to fork out some RM1.06 million, not including operational costs, if a special sitting is held for both the State Assembly and Parliament.
Any MP who wishes to bring the price of goods and cost of living issues must first submit the motion to get the approval from the Speaker.
“The MP must take the initiative to submit the motion. Then it is up to the Speaker to allow it or not. However, I am confident the Speaker will allow the opportunity to discuss this issue because it involves the interest of the people,” Wan Junaidi said.— DayakDaily
