KUALA LUMPUR: The government and Pakatan Harapan have reached an agreement on three points relating to the proposed amendment to the Federal Constitution, the first being to fine-tune the definitions of restrictions for elected representatives to switch parties as stated in Article 10.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic) said the agreement was reached at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday (April 11) morning.

       He said the meeting also agreed to the proposal to repeal Article 48(6) of the Constitution, as well as other amendments to the Constitution which were deemed necessary.

       Article 48(6) states that a person who resigns his membership of the Dewan Rakyat shall, for a period of five years beginning from the date on which his resignation takes effect, be disqualified from being a member of the House.

       "And the third point (agreed to) is to formulate a specific law to prevent members of the Dewan Rakyat from switching parties.

       "These points will be submitted for discussion and consideration by a Select Committee appointed by the House,” he said when tabling the Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 at a special meeting of the Dewan Rakyat here.

       The amendment to Article 10 of the Constitution seeks to insert Clause 3A after Clause 3 on restrictions on the right to form associations conferred by paragraph (c) of Clause (1), relating to membership in a political party.

       Wan Junaidi said the amendment would also provide an enabling clause for a specific anti-party hopping law to be formulated, tabled and approved in Parliament.

       "Apart from that, the Bill is also... to prevent any elected representatives from switching parties without valid and solid reasons, hence ensuring political stability in the country (in) the long run,” he said.

       Wan Junaidi said the government had also agreed to a special bipartisan Select Committee being set up for the formulation of the new anti-party hopping law.

       He said the committee, which will comprise all stakeholders including academicians and representatives from the Opposition and government, will study and decide the best policy and provisions for the new law. – Bernama