He said the parliamentary support was important to enable the tabling of the proposed law to ban party hopping by MPs and state assembly members.

“The issue is that as long as the constitution is not amended, (the tabling of the bill) cannot happen as whichever law contradicts the constitution is automatically null and void.

“So we need to amend (Article 10 of the Federal Constitution) first,” he said here after attending a community breaking of fast.

Article 10 provides freedom of association for all citizens but allows for restrictions by federal law for reasons of national security. The proposed amendment on Monday seeks to allow federal law to restrict the right of elected representatives to be members of political parties.

“Amend it so that there is a clause to exempt freedom to form associations….to enable the creation of the anti-party hopping law,” he said.

The government has previously said a constitutional amendment was necessary to pave the way for the anti-hopping law.

A constitutional amendment must receive the support of two thirds of MPs and senators before it can become law.

The proposed anti-hopping law will penalise MPs or state assembly members who switch parties after being elected.

He said the draft bill will be distributed to all members of the technical committee as soon as it is completed. “Internally, the draft can be shared earlier….we need to be transparent because at the end everyone will vote,” Annuar said.