IPOH: The loophole in the anti-party hopping law is expected to be a key topic at the upcoming Conference of Speakers of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies of Malaysia 2024 in Sarawak, scheduled from Sept 11 to 14.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul said that, although the issue was not on the official agenda, it would likely be discussed among the speakers.
He said that each state had its own constitution, which serves as a primary reference.
"While there will probably be questions related to the anti-party hopping law, even though it's not on the official agenda, this does not prevent the speakers from raising the issue to ensure a clear understanding.
"Each state has its own constitution, so what happens in Parliament can serve as a guide, but ultimately, each state has its own rights," Johari told reporters after visiting the Perak State Assembly at Bangunan Perak Darul Ridzuan.
Also present was Perak Speaker Datuk Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid.
Asked whether politicians would be involved in the conference, Johari clarified that it was primarily for speakers, and no politicians would participate in discussing this law.
"Even though some speakers were previously assemblymen, speakers must remain impartial, independent, and fair. We can't bring our party affiliations into the discussion, and speakers are guided by certain principles," he said.
Regarding his working visit to the Perak State Assembly, Johari said that valuable insights could be gained from the visit.
He said that Perak was his third destination, following Melaka and Negri Sembilan, with the next stops being Penang, Kedah, and Perlis.