APRIL 12 — "Why are we here?”

Warisan’s Youth chief and Sepanggar MP Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman has questioned the purpose of yesterday’s special parliamentary sitting to debate the Constitution (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2022 which was tabled for its first and second reading.

However, the debate of the Bill following its second reading, which is expected of any Bill, has been postponed to another special sitting following the Dewan Rakyat approving a motion to set up a Special Select Committee (SSC) to provide recommendations on the constitutional amendments relating to the restrictions for elected representatives to switch parties.

Reference to the SSC is another historic moment. The Bill is the second in three years and only the seventh since independence.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob speaks at the Parliament in Kuala Lumpur April 11, 2022. — Bernama pic

The great scholar, observer, popular teacher and good friend of Malaysia, the late Professor RH Hickling once called a Bill referred to a SSC as one that is singled out for a "distinguished treatment”. Read it here why that is so.

So Sepanggar should savour the moment.

Let’s appreciate, again, the reference to the SSC. It allows the Bill to be scrutinised. It also enables the details of the Bill to be discussed in a less formal manner but in a definite order, where each and every clause (in the order in which they appear), and schedules and preamble (if any) will be reviewed.

The SSC will have the power delegated by the Dewan Rakyat to: