Malaysia passes Bill to ban party-hopping MPs in bid to stabilise government
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Loading... - Mei Xing Leung
- 07 Sep 2022
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Malaysia’s lawmakers on Thursday (July 28) unanimously passed a landmark Bill to curb party hopping, more than two years after defections collapsed the Pakatan Harapan (PH) federal government and set off a period of political instability.
All 209 MPs present in Parliament voted in favour of the Bill that introduced several amendments to the Constitution, which will trigger a recall election or by-election every time an MP quits or switches political party.
MPs elected as independents will also lose their seats should they formally join any party under the new legislation.
Collectively known as the Anti-Hopping Law (AHL), the new constitutional rules are now expected to be passed by the Senate. They could be gazetted as early as September, putting them in force before Malaysia faces its next general election, which must be held by September next year.
Constitutional amendments need two-thirds majority to pass in Parliament. All 209 MPs present voted in favour of the Bill. Eleven MPs were absent and two seats are currently vacant in the 222-seat Parliament.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob praised MPs for unanimously voting for the Bill. “This law is to ensure continuous and lasting political stability,” he said in a statement. Read More...
