PETALING JAYA: After many months of discussions, the proposed anti-hopping law will be tabled in Parliament next month.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said he had personally set the target for the Bill to be brought to Dewan Rakyat in March.

       However, he said, it was not because Pakatan Harapan had threatened to withdraw support for the government if the proposal was not carried out,

       “We have been working very hard to finalise several policy issues related to the proposed law so that the Attorney General’s Chambers can begin drafting the Bill.

       “Although there are some who want the Bill tabled in July, I personally wanted it to be done in March,” he told The Star yesterday.

       He said several engagement sessions had been held to gather feedback from stakeholders.

       “A bipartisan technical committee was also set up recently to resolve issues such as the definition of party hopping.

       “Besides this, there is also a need to amend Article 10 of the Federal Constitution, which currently allows for freedom of association,” he said, adding that careful consideration is needed to ensure that the proposed law does not contain any loopholes.

       Wan Junaidi said he would be meeting with party leaders soon to get further feedback.

       “I will issue invitations for the meetings and it is up to them to attend as I can’t force them to do so.

       “This includes making trips to Sarawak and Sabah to meet with party leaders there,” he added.

       Most lawmakers have indicated support for anti-hopping laws although some continue to remain silent, he said.

       The Perikatan Nasional government and the Opposition coalition signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at reforms and political stability last September.

       The MOU outlined reforms to be undertaken by the government, with Pakatan giving an assurance that it will not push for the 15th General Election to be held before July 31.

       The tabling of the anti-hopping law and limiting the post of prime minister to two terms were among the reforms proposed in the MOU.

       However, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in a recent speech that the MOU could not be sustained and would automatically lapse if the proposed anti-hopping law is not tabled and passed by Dewan Rakyat next month.

       Wan Junaidi said that this was to be expected as part and parcel of “political talk” by the Opposition.

       “This is just political talk, which is to be expected,” he said, adding that the issue is likely to crop up as part of the campaigning leading up to the Johor state polls on March 12. In the Melaka election last year,

       Wan Junaidi said the Prime Minister himself was very keen to see the Bill tabled in Parliament.

       “I have not shifted my target and expect it to be put before lawmakers in March,” he added.

       He said that the Bill is likely to be tabled sometime during Dewan Rakyat’s first meeting. The First Meeting of the Fifth Term of the 14th Parliament in 2022 will begin on Feb 28.