KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor has finally broken his silence about the Sabah-level anti-hopping bill, saying that the state government will table the constitutional amendment bill during its state assembly soon.
He said that the state cabinet has agreed to bring this matter to the assembly after the Dewan Rakyat passed a constitutional amendment that outlaws party hopping.
He said the move is in line with the state government’s commitment to creating political stability in Sabah, which has faced uncertainty for years.
“We support anti-party hopping and we will table it in the state assembly. What has happened in the past is the past; now, we want political stability in Sabah.
“(We do this) so that we can sleep soundly… no more staying alert here and there, hopping here and there. What (happened in the) past is enough,” he said.
Hajiji said this when launching the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) tour in Keningau, today.
It is the ruling coalition’s first tour after it was launched in May, and it will be held in other assemblies state-wide.
Also present during the tour were GRS supreme leaders from Parti Bersatu Sabah, Bersatu, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party, and United Sabah National Organisation.
Hajiji, who is also GRS chairman, said Sabah does not want to be left behind in creating its own anti-hopping law after the amendment was passed in Parliament.
“There is no need for us to hop (parties) anymore,” he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili was the first to urge Sabah to act fast in tabling anti-hopping legislation for Sabah.
This was followed by continuous urges by Sabah’s opposition leaders, but Hajiji remained quiet on the matter until his announcement today.
https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/69140/just-reinstate-sabahs-repealed-anti-hopping-law-shafie-apdal-tells-state
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the Sabah government has locked another achievement following the passing of the authority to control and administer electricity and gas from the federal government to the state government, which is expected to happen latest by next year.
He said relevant agencies in the state and federal government are currently taking follow-up actions to prepare in the technical and law aspects, because this direction will involve legal processes from both levels.
As a preparation, the Sabah government will form the Sabah State Energy Commission, he said.
On politics, Hajiji said GRS welcomes local parties to join GRS, saying that GRS is a new political array that unites leaders and local parties to develop Sabah together.
“It is time that Sabahans determine the future of the state through GRS. We must be united for the interests of the people and Sabah,” he added.
Though not officially in the GRS coalition, leaders from parties such as Parti Cinta Sabah’s president Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat’s president Datuk Peter Anthony, and leaders from Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah and Liberal Democratic Party were also present at the tour to show support to GRS. –The Vibes, August 28, 2022
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