KUALA LUMPUR: The anti-hopping Bill will be tabled in a special Dewan Rakyat sitting held during Ramadan, says DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke.

       He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had given the assurance that he would be calling for the special sitting latest before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, where the anti-hopping Bill will be tabled and debated.

       Loke said Ismail Sabri confirmed this in a meeting with Pakatan Harapan leaders that included Loke, Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu and PKR secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Parliament on Wednesday (March 23).

       “The Prime Minister has given his commitment that the Bill will be tabled and debated in the Dewan Rakyat through a special sitting during the coming month of Ramadan, latest before Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

       “As long as the government fulfils its promise to bring the Bill to the Parliament, the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Pakatan Harapan and the government stands.

       “We give our full commitment that Pakatan will cooperate in ensuring the constitutional amendment can be passed, subsequently stopping any action of party-hopping,” said Loke in a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday.

       He added that the anti-hopping Bill was supposed to be tabled and debated on Wednesday for the second reading, but because of several technical issues, this did not happen.

       Several MPs had also called for the anti-hopping law to be tabled in this sitting.

       Last September, the government signed an MOU with Pakatan to bring reforms and political stability for the nation.

       Among the agreements were that the Opposition would not push for an early general election before July 31 and among the reforms included the tabling of anti-hopping laws.

       A special bipartisan committee was set up to look into the suitable proposed anti-hopping laws.

       Last month, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar assured that the proposed law would be tabled at the current Dewan Rakyat meeting which ends on Thursday (March 24).

       Wan Junaidi hinted that amendments to the Federal Constitution would be done to stop party-hopping rather than passing a specific anti-hopping law for the purpose.

       However, on March 19, Wan Junaidi said that the tabling of the proposed amendments would be delayed or held at a special Dewan Rakyat sitting.

       Wan Junaidi said the Cabinet believes the Bill still requires further consultation through engagement sessions with other stakeholders, particularly Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional.