Photo: Bernama
IPOH: The Perak government has tabled the anti-hopping law at the state assembly sitting here on Wednesday (Dec 28).
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said tabling the law was needed in line with its enforcement at Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negeri.
“Under this law, assemblymen who defect from the party they represent as election candidates, or those who become independent, would have to vacate their seats.
“Those who forego their status as assemblymen (from the party they represent) may not contest again during the five-year term.
“The same applies to elected independent assemblymen who then decide to join a political party,” he added.
Saarani added that any unexpected vacant seat would be informed to the Elected Commissioner within 21 days of the vacant date.
“However, if the party dissolves, the assemblyman is still a member of the state assembly sitting,” he added.
The law is expected to be discussed Thursday (Dec 29) during the state assembly sitting.
The Perak assembly sitting comprises 24 Pakatan Harapan assemblymen, nine Barisan Nasional assemblymen, and 26 from Perikatan Nasional.
Prior to the 15th General Election, Saarani on Oct 19, had said that the delay of the tabling was due to the lack of time to call for a state assembly to table the motion.
On Oct 4, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Parliament and Law, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the King had consented to enforce the anti-hopping law on Oct 5.
