By Free Malaysia Today


Nurul Izzah Anwar says the constitutional amendment gives the federal government power in perpetuity to strip MPs of seats.

An enabling clause set to be inserted into the Federal Constitution to allow the tabling of the anti-hopping bill should be revised, PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar said today, following concerns it might be open to abuse.

She was sceptical over the government’s good faith and intentions in tabling the anti-hopping bill, saying if one were to rely on faith alone, then one can expect it to change in the future.

“It (the law) gives the federal government power in perpetuity to strip MPs of seats. We need to revise this legislative strategy,” the Permatang Pauh MP said in a tweet.

Nurul Izzah was responding to lawyer New Sin Yew’s comment that the impending constitutional amendment was “dangerous”.

New said the new constitutional clause does not stop people from party hopping and instead will give the government full control over other political parties.

He said by right, the government should amend Article 48 of the Constitution concerning the membership of parliamentarians too.

New said amending an article concerning freedom of association under Article 10 without amending Article 48 would render the future anti-hopping law unconstitutional.

“In essence, the proposed amendments will cause an MP or assemblyman to lose their freedom of association when it comes to their membership in political parties. This is extremely dangerous because the government can have greater control over political parties.

“Enabling anti-party hopping laws is just an excuse,” he said.

The Parliament will meet on Monday to debate the enabling clause to be inserted into the Constitution.


Source: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/04/09/nurul-izzah-questions-govts-good-faith-over-anti-hopping-bill/