PETALING JAYA: “Get it over and done with as soon as possible!”

       This is the sentiment of Members of Parliament (MPs) and analysts on a proposal by the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) for a one-day special Dewan Rakyat sitting in early July to table and pass the anti-party hopping Bill.

       Political analyst Prof Dr Jeniri Amir said the government should waste no more time to table the Bill in Parliament as further delays would only tarnish its image.

       “There is no reason to delay tabling the Bill any further.

       “If it is delayed again, the rakyat will question the government’s motive and this would only look bad on it,” said Jeniri, who is a National Professors Council senior fellow.

       He noted that the proposed law had been discussed for quite some time and both sides of the political divide were looking forward to seeing the Bill tabled.

       “Both sides want the law to be in place before the 15th General Election.

       Hassan: ‘I am happy that at last, the anti-hopping law will be tabled in Parliament.’

       “It is very important that the Bill is brought to Parliament and implemented as soon as possible,” he added.

       Jeniri also said the Federal Government and the Opposition, Pakatan Harapan, have a commitment to honouring the bipartisan memorandum of understanding (MOU) they signed last year, and tabling the anti-hopping law is a key component of the agreement.

       Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research political analyst Dr Azmi Hassan, meanwhile, feels Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also an Umno vice-president, would want the tabling of the Bill to be expedited.

       “To delay the Bill any further would paint a bad picture of the government, but to expedite it will be an advantage to Umno.

       “Enacting the law will show that Umno will not support MPs who switch parties,” he said.

       He added that the anti-party hopping Bill was pursued amid claims by certain quarters that there were elected representatives from Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia who want to jump to Umno.

       “Umno will be faced with an uncomfortable decision whether to accept these representatives, so the sooner this Bill becomes an Act, the better.

       “I believe they would want to expedite the Bill,” Azmi told The Star.

       The political analyst said that with the PSSC calling for a special early sitting, the proposed law is pretty much finalised.

       “The last time the Bill was delayed because there were some deliberations on the definition of the proposed laws and which parts of the Federal Constitution need to be amended.

       “The PSSC has completed the nitty gritty part of the Bill and is ready to have it tabled at an earlier special sitting.

       “I do not think there is any reason for the government to delay tabling this Bill,” said Azmi.

       Subang MP Wong Chen said it was better for the anti-hopping law to be passed as soon as possible.

       “Since most, if not all, MPs agree in principle on the need for an anti-hopping law, we must act fast and get this passed,” he said yesterday. He noted that there was a danger that there would be little time to debate the Bill if it was tabled during the scheduled meeting on July 18.

       “If we leave it to the scheduled July meeting, other legislations may take precedence and delay these amendments,” he said.

       Nazri: Respects the views of the PSSC as it is a decision based on consensus.

       Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim said he was glad that the Bill would finally be tabled in Parliament after earlier setbacks.

       “I am happy that at last, the anti-hopping law will be tabled in Parliament. It is better late than never,” he said.

       He said that the Bill could be tabled and passed within a day with an extension given if needed.

       “The proceeding could start at 10am and end at late night or it could also continue the following day under a special motion if necessary for further deliberation, debates and bloc voting,” he added.

       He said it is likely that the Bill would be passed with the required two-thirds majority as all political parties want an end to party hopping.

       “I don’t think any party will object the Bill,” added Hassan.

       Bipartisan committee on reforms members Seremban MP Anthony Loke and Padang Rengas MP Datuk Seri Abdul Nazri Aziz said they respected the views of the PSSC as it was a decision based on consensus.