In collaboration with BERSIH, the Bar Council is organising a conference on the proposed anti-party hopping law on 9 May 2022 (Monday), from 9am to 5.45pm.
Fundamental issues such as the definition of party-hopping and the need to amend the Federal Constitution have arisen repeatedly. A Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) has also been established to study the matters, but its proceedings will not be made public.
This conference aims to bring together thought leaders from the law, civil society, politics, and academia to deliberate on the relevant issues, and present a range of views, including recommendations for the consideration of the PSSC.
AmerBON’s lawyers will be speaking on two panels at the conference.
New Sin Yew will participate in “Session 2: Between a traditional anti-party hopping law and an anti-party hopping recall law”, together with Subang Member of Parliament Wong Chen and BERSIH Chairperson Thomas Fann. The session will look into the different mechanisms to deter anti-party hopping — its pros and cons, possible reforms, and how these can be applied in the Malaysian context.
Meanwhile, Amer Hamzah Arshad will join “Session 3: State-level anti-hopping law — imposed or enabled?” with Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia’s Prof Wong Chin Huat and Tuaran Member of Parliament Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau. The panel will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of enabling states to enact their anti-party hopping laws and the obstacles posed by the Supreme Court’s 1992 decision in Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan v. Nordin Salleh.
The conference is open to the public and you are encouraged to attend.
AmerBON, Advocates
This event will be streamed live on the Malaysian Bar Facebook page. For more details, see the Bar Council’s Circular No 116/2022.
