SHAH ALAM: More clarity is needed on the deferment of the Federal Constitution (Amendments) 2022 Bill on anti-party hopping, says Lim Guan Eng.

       Speaking to reporters at a press conference after opening the 17th DAP annual congress on Sunday (March 20), the DAP incumbent secretary-general said despite Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar saying the reading of the bill was postponed, there was an order paper indicating that a constitutional amendment will be tabled in Parliament on Monday (March 21).

       “This has caused utter confusion as we do not know what the order paper on the constitutional amendment is about.

       “As such, let us have some clarity on this,” he said, adding that Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will be seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to further discuss the matter.

       He added that the government was required to discuss the constitutional amendment as it was stated in the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by both coalitions on Sept 13, 2021.

       “At the same time, they do not have a two-thirds majority in Parliament, hence they cannot pass the law on their own, “ he said.

       Lim also noted that if the anti-party hopping legislation was not passed, it would mark the end of the MOU.

       In a statement on Friday (March 18), Wan Junaidi said the Cabinet had decided that the Bill would be postponed for further deliberation as it required more consultation through engagement sessions with other stakeholders particularly, Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.