THE proposed Bill to penalise lawmakers who party-hop is in line with the spirit of the Malaysian Family concept mooted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, says former deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

       At a meeting with Ismail Sabri in Parliament yesterday, she declared her support for anti-party-hopping initiatives and other parliamentary reforms.

       “I’m confident that the Sacking of Members of Parliament Bill 2021 that I proposed is in line with the spirit of the Prime Minister’s Malaysian Family concept,” she told the media later.

       On behalf of the Pengerang Umno division, Azalina also congratulated Ismail Sabri on his appointment as the country’s ninth Prime Minister.

       She had recently urged Putrajaya to fast-track and include her proposed recall election Bill as part of the proposed anti-hopping law.

       Azalina had submitted a notice to table the Private Members’ Bill on Sept 3.

       The government had agreed under the memorandum of understanding it signed with the Opposition on Sept 13 to include anti-hopping as part of its promised reforms, with the proposed laws to be tabled at the first meeting of Parliament next year.