KUALA LUMPUR: The Perak state government is looking to adopt the anti-party hopping law when the new state assembly convenes on Dec 19.
Its Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said this will be done through the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution that will only require a simple majority in the state assembly.
"During the first exco meeting last week, we have agreed to adopt the anti-party hopping law and approve the 2023 State Budget on Dec 19.
"If we adopt the law through the Eighth Schedule, we will not require a two-thirds majority to pass the legislation. A simple majority will be sufficient," he told reporters during a media engagement session at St Regis Hotel, here, on Monday.
The Dewan Rakyat passed the anti-party hopping law, known as the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022, with more than a two-thirds majority on July 28.
In a bloc vote, 209 lawmakers voted for the motion while 11 were absent. The law subsequently came into effect on Oct 5 – five days before the Parliament was dissolved to make way for the 15th General Election (GE15).
However, the anti-party hopping law will only be applicable at the state level after obtaining the consent of the Sultan or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri.
On Nov 27, Saarani revealed that he hurried to form the new Perak government with Pakatan Harapan (PH) to foil Perikatan Nasional's (PN) attempts to "steal" four Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen.
This came after no coalition secured a simple majority in the state election that was held concurrently with the 15th General Election (GE15). PN won 26 seats, while PH secured 24 seats and BN garnered eight seats.
However, with PH's backing, Saarani returned as the Perak Menteri Besar on Nov 21.
