PETALING JAYA: There seems to be a lack of political will to table the anti-hopping bill, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic).

       " The legal process involving the 'anti-hopping' law will take a long time, it will be at risk of being delayed indefinitely.

       "It seems like there is no seriousness or firmness and lacking in political will. (on the part of the government) Are internal saboteurs behind this delay," said the Umno president in a Facebook post on Thursday. (April 7).

       He added the rakyat will be sorely disappointed as they have been waiting for the anti-hopping law to be passed and said that the implementation of the law is crucial as voters do not want those who they elected to later switch parties.

       Dr Ahmad Zahid said Umno was the biggest victim of party hopping when their MPs switched alliance following Barisan Nasional losses in the previous general election.

       He reiterated calls for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to review the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Pakatan Harapan last September.

       "A review is necessary as it can be assessed that there is lack of firmness in speeding up the tabling and passing of this law," he added..

       Since May 2018, a total of 33 MPs have either switched camps or left to form new parties.

       Party hopping since then, has led to the change of administrations at the federal and state levels, resulting in political instability.

       The anti-hopping law was supposed to have been tabled on the last day of the Dewan Rakyat meeting on March 24.

       However, the government decided to postpone tabling the Bill to a one-day special sitting on April 11 to allow a further relook at the proposed law.

       The last minute postponement was due to differences among some MPs.

       On Wednesday (April 7), the Cabinet decided to go ahead with amendments to the Federal Constitution on Monday (April 11) to pave the way for anti-hopping laws to be tabled at a later date.

       There had been pressure from the opposition MPs and government backbenchers including civil society for the proposed anti-hopping law to be tabled during the Dewan Rakyat meeting last month.

       This is to keep in line with the MOU signed between the government and Pakatan last September to initiate political reforms before July 31 this year.

       The next Dewan Rakyat meeting will be held from July 18 to 28.