April 2, 2022
RECALLING parliament for a special meeting on April 11 so the anti-party hopping bill could be tabled is not yet a certainty, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said today.
He said the cabinet will only decide on the date at its weekly meeting this coming Wednesday.
Although he had been reported as saying he had been given the assurance by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob that the bill’s tabling would take place on April 11, Wan Junaidi told reporters in Kuching today “it’s still subject to approval by the cabinet”.
“I will have to table it at the meeting. So during that time, I’ve got to convince everybody.
“If there are objections by any member of the cabinet, then it’s up to the prime minister to make the final decision,” he said, after launching the Bank Rakyat’s loan application counter for petty traders at his service centre.
Wan Junaidi said he could not speak for “everybody” (members of the cabinet) on the date.
The de facto law minister said he had “prepared everything” to have the tabling on April 11, as far as he is concerned.
He added that he had notified Parliament and asked for its permission to hold that special meeting.
“The Dewan Rakyat needs a 14-day notice. So once the cabinet makes its decision on the April 6, it could be debated on April 11.
The bill, which would make hopping from one party to another illegal, and which would automatically trigger a fresh election, was to have been tabled last month.
The bill is highly anticipated and a major point of interest for the opposition.
The Pakatan Harapan government collapsed after just 22 months in power due to MPs switching allegiances.
Related news:
Cabinet to decide Wednesday on April 11 tabling of anti-party hopping bill