MIRI – The Sarawak government will not have to enact its own anti-hopping bill as matters pertaining to public elections are federal laws, said Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Abdul Karim Hamzah.
The senior Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) leader said the state government is currently waiting for the bill to be gazetted in order for it to be enforced.
“Since the bill passed unanimously, it shows a common sentiment on the matter among the MPs which is really good.
“As such, if any individuals plan on contesting under a party banner, they should opt to remain with that party rather than jumping ship halfway.
“That should not be the way as it is seen as a betrayal of trust given by the people,“ he told reporters after attending the 23rd Meeting of Asean Sub-Committee on Culture and the 11th Meeting of Asean Plus Three Cultural Cooperation gala dinner in Kuching, last night.
The anti-hopping bill, Karim added, would lead to more positive developments for the country’s political landscape.
Karim added the bill would pave the way for positive developments in the country’s political landscape.
PBB is the backbone of the GPS ruling coalition, which is also made up of Sarawak United People’s Party, Parti Rakyat Sarawak, and Progressive Democratic Party.
Meanwhile Sarawak DAP expressed their disagreement over the matter, calling for Sarawak to have a specific law due to cases of state assemblymen hopping from one party to another.
Its state chairman Chong Chien Jen said GPS has no reason to be afraid of enacting a law on this.
“Even within the ruling coalition parties, there were cases of elected assemblymen jumping from one party to another.
“It is important that Sarawak has a similar law to deter politicians from moving from party to party after being elected by the people," he said.
Chong, who is also Padungan assemblyman, told reporters in Kuching today that since GPS supported the federal bill, there is no reason to not make a similar bill for Sarawak.
“Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is a GPS man, so he must make sure GPS in Sarawak enacts the same law at the state level,” he said.
The Dewan Rakyat had yesterday unanimously passed the constitutional amendments to outlaw party-hopping via a bloc vote.
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun said all 209 MPs present supported the bill during the vote at the second reading of the policy stage, while 11 were absent.
A similar figure was recorded for the third and final reading. – The Vibes, July 28, 2022
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