ALOR STAR – Kedah should hold a special sitting at its assembly soon to debate and pass the anti-party hopping bill following the legislation passed in Parliament recently, said Kota Darul Aman assemblyman Teh Swee Leong.
Teh said this follows Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s suggestion that the proposed bill be adopted in Kedah prior to the 15th general election.
In view of mounting speculations on GE15 being around the corner, the state DAP secretary said, the special sitting should be called now to preserve political stability in Kedah.
“We want to restore the people’s confidence in our democratic process,” he said.
He further pointed out that party hopping had caused the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan government barely two years into its administration.
“It causes much uncertainty and a loss of confidence.”
Kedah saw the emergence of a PAS-led government when two PKR assemblymen Azman Nasrudin (Lunas) and Robert Ling Kui Ee (Sidam) defected to Bersatu together with six Bersatu assemblymen.
Teh said the move eventually eroded the public and investors’ confidence in the nation’s electoral process, stifling economic progress as well.
At present, PAS and its allies have 23 seats while PH has 11, and Pejuang led by its president and former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir has two out of the total of 36 state seats here.
Teh said he is confident Sanusi will have unwavering support from all political components to draft and pass a legislation similar to the one passed in Parliament. – The Vibes, August 11, 2022
