KOTA KINABALU – The anti-hopping legislation will be tabled at the Sabah assembly when it sits next week despite earlier reports of the private member’s bill not being on the agenda.
Sabah Pakatan Harapan (PH) chief Datuk Christina Liew said the tabling was brought up by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor and PH would support it.
“My understanding is the Sabah government will table the bill in this upcoming state assembly session. The chief minister has mentioned this and PH will support this when it is tabled next week,” she told reporters at a press conference here today.
Liew, who is also the Api-Api assemblyman, confirmed the matter following the state cabinet meeting yesterday, but did not elaborate whether this was a cabinet decision.
Sabah Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya said on Monday the anti-hopping bill was not part of the sitting’s agenda, which is scheduled from May 22 to 25.
He also confirmed receiving a private members’ bill and the state cabinet said the bill will be tabled but did not say when.
He also proposed a special assembly sitting so more assemblymen could debate the bill.
Sabah opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had in March said he would submit a private members’ bill to refine the anti-hopping bill for use in the state.
Sabah, notorious for party-hoppers in its political history, has not set a deadline to adopt the law. – The Vibes, May 18, 2023
