PETALING JAYA: Proceedings of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSC) to scrutinise the constitutional amendments on party hopping should be made public, says the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih).

       "Bersih calls on the PSC to broadcast its proceedings live so that the whole process is transparent," it said.

       "It will be a model of how a PSC should operate, and it will showcase how parliamentary democracy should function," the election watchdog added in a statement on Tuesday (April 12).

       Although there would be a delay after referring to the proposed amendments, Bersih said such a delay is acceptable as it is “better late than never".

       "This should have been the correct due process in the first place when it comes to any legislative amendments or new Bills, let alone an amendment that affects our fundamental liberty to freedom of association," it added.

       On Monday (April 11), the proposed amendments to Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 was tabled in Dewan Rakyat.

       However, it was decided that the Bill be referred to the PSC for further scrutiny.

       Apart from amendments to Article 10(1), the PSC will also look at several other amendments including the definition and from the proposed anti party-hopping law.

       Bersih added that the PSC should also engage with as many stakeholders as possible so that there is breadth and depth in the process.

       "We hope that legal experts from academia, as well as civil society will be consulted so that all angles are explored and the best solutions are considered before amendments to the Federal Constitution are made or a Bill is tabled," it added.

       However, Bersih suggested that the terms of reference for the PSC should be expanded to cover other areas apart from the proposed amendments and the definition of party-hopping.

       Among the other areas that should also be considered by the PSC, the group said, include an unequal Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and appointments to government-linked companies among others.

       Bersih also agreed with calls by several MPs for the government to announce the date for the special Parliamentary sitting to table and vote on the anti-hopping bills.

       "This would give certainty to the passing of this much needed legislation to curb the kind of party hopping that has plagued this country these past four years," the group added.