The Malaysian Insight

THE memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Pakatan Harapan and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob will end if the government does not pass the anti-party hopping bill, said Lim Guan Eng.

“There is some confusion about the present status,” said the DAP secretary-general during his policy speech at the 17th DAP Congress in Shah Alam today.

“The latest Parliamentary Order Paper reveals that the first reading of the Constitutional Amendment Bill will be tabled in Parliament tomorrow.

“If the anti-party hopping bill is not passed as promised in the MOU signed by the prime minister, then the MOU is finished and ended.”

He said PH wants the government to enact such a law to prevent defections, which contaminate the entire democratic process.

Ismail Sabri signed the MOU to obtain a political ceasefire, shortly after he was appointed head of government.

He promised key reforms, including enacting an anti-party hopping law, in exchange for political support.

Though Ismail Sabri said he is committed to passing the bill, Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar last week said the tabling of the bill will be delayed as the bill needed some improvements.

Government sources told The Malaysian Insight that the draft law is insufficient as it does not address hung parliaments or cases where a political party quits a coalition after an election.

Bersatu, which allied with PH in the general election in 2018, cut ties with the coalition and caused the fall of the federal and four state governments in 2020.

The party also welcomed 10 PKR and 15 Umno MPs into its ranks since then.

The introduction of the anti-party hopping bill and limiting the tenure of the prime minister are part of the MOU on political stability and transformation signed on September 14. The agreement focuses on six areas of reform.

Lim, at a press conference today, again mentioned the confusion over the anti-party hopping bill.

He said there is an item in the Order Paper for constitutional amendments, despite Wan Junaidi’s announcement.

“As far as we know, there is only one constitutional amendment and that is the anti-party hopping bill. We are unaware of others.

“Without our support, they cannot pass this.”

In any case, he said, PH is willing to extend the current parliamentary session to pass the bill.

“We can accept if it is in April. Just give us a definite date instead of deferment.” – March 20, 2022.