KUALA LUMPUR: The special one-day Dewan Negara sitting on Tuesday (April 12) to amend the Constitution to pave the way for anti-hopping laws, has been called off.

       The notice of the cancellation of the scheduled special sitting was issued by Dewan Negara secretary Muhd Sujairi Abdullah on Monday (April 11) afternoon.

       In the notice, Muhd Sujairi said that Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Rais Yatim was informed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is head of the House, that the special sitting was called off.

       He said this follows a decision by the lower House to refer the constitutional amendments to a parliamentary special select committee for further scrutiny.

       Earlier on Monday, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar tabled the Constitution (Amendment) (No.3) Bill 2022 for first reading in Dewan Rakyat.

       The amendments sought to introduce a new Clause 3A to Article 10(1) of the constitution to allow for the introduction of laws to prohibit party-hopping.

       Article 10(1) guarantees freedom of association.

       Although debates were held on party hopping, the House did not vote on the constitutional amendment involving Article 10.

       Wan Junaidi said the decision to defer voting on the constitution amendment was made following a meeting chaired between Ismail Sabri and Pakatan's top leadership on Monday (April 11) morning.

       Wan Junaidi said the anti-hoping bill is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat in a special sitting after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festive season, and the Prime Minister will decide on the new date.

       The anti-party-hopping Bill is expected to be tabled in the coming Parliament sitting that begins on July 18 to Aug 4.