KUALA LUMPUR: The much-anticipated tabling of the law to curb party-hopping among lawmakers and to limit the terms of the Prime Minister during the current Parliament meeting will be delayed and may be tabled later at a special session.

       It was announced yesterday that the Federal Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill on anti-party hopping and limiting the tenure of the Prime Minister to not more than 10 years have been postponed to accommodate further deliberation.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Cabinet believes the Bill still requires further consultation through engagement sessions with other stakeholders, particularly Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.

       “This is to ensure the amendments receive support in the Dewan Rakyat. Under Article 159 of the Federal Constitution, we need a two-thirds majority support in the Dewan to amend the Constitution,” said the minister in charge of law and Parliament in a statement yesterday.

       Wan Junaidi said he had issued letters to all party leaders on March 15, with questionnaires and a draft of the Bill for their opinions and input.

       “This initiative is a continuation of the previous nine engagement sessions that I held with the cooperation of the Legal Affairs Division, Prime Minister’s Department and Attorney General’s Chambers.

       “The engagement sessions included members of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara as well as component parties, including parties in Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.

       Wan Junaidi also said an engagement session with the Barisan and Perikatan leaders that was scheduled on Feb 26 and 28 respectively was postponed at the request of both coalitions in order for them to focus on the March 12 Johor state election.

       “Once engagement sessions with all parties have concluded, a special Parliament session will be held to table the Bill if the Cabinet approves.

       “The Bill will then be tabled during the session in accordance with Regulations 11(3) Standing Orders of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, once the Prime Minister agrees to use his power under the Rule,” he said.

       The Standing Orders 11(3) of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara allow the prime minister to call for a special parliamentary meeting outside of the set schedule.

       The current Parliament meeting ends on March 24.

       Wan Junaidi said the government had always been committed to bringing this Bill forward to ensure the political stability of the country.

       The current Barisan-led government, which also comprises Perikatan and Gabungan Parti Sarawak, and the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition signed a memorandum of understanding in September last year aimed at initiating reforms and political stability for the nation.

       The reforms include the tabling of laws on anti-hopping and limiting the post of prime minister to two terms.

       The push for a law against party-hopping was intensified after the Federal Government and four state governments collapsed due to defections among lawmakers.

       Last November, Pengerang MP and Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said submitted a Private Member’s Bill to address the issue.

       Among Azalina’s suggestions were for elected representatives who switched parties to vacate their seats and for a referendum to be held to allow the voters to decide if an elected representative should be replaced or not.

       In a recent interview with The Star, Wan Junaidi said the constitutional amendments that would be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this month would put an end to party-hopping “once and for all”.