KOTA KINABALU – The four MPs who quit Sabah Bersatu will inform the Dewan Rakyat speaker of their decision if and when necessary, said former state chapter deputy chairman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Masidi said he is confident that the four Sabah MPs will not be affected by the anti-hopping law.
He added that they were aware of the legislation that came into effect on October 5 before they stood as Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) candidates for the 15th general election (GE15).
“They will inform the speaker, if and when necessary, of their position and will issue a statement accordingly.”
This came after their exodus from the party led by its former GRS chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor on Saturday.
They remain GRS members until a new local party is formed.
The four who contested in GE15 under GRS tickets were Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali (Papar), Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Datuk Matbali Musah (Sipitang), and Datuk Jonathan Yasin (Ranau).
Beluran MP Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee, who is now the new Sabah Bersatu chairman, is the only candidate in Sabah who contested under the Perikatan Nasional ticket.
The positions of the four MPs have been questioned, including by Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking, who said they must vacate their seats as stated under Article 49A of the federal constitution.
He also questioned how the departure would affect Armizan and Khairul’s government roles, as they are Sabah and Sarawak affairs minister, and deputy tourism, arts, and culture minister, respectively.
Bersatu is a component of the PN coalition, which also includes PAS.
PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also president of Bersatu, said the anti-hopping law will determine the fate of the Sabah MPs who quit Bersatu.
He reasoned that the state chapter was formed under the purview of the party’s supreme council, and only the party’s highest governing body has the power to decide on its status.
After the last Sabah election, GRS, which previously comprised Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Sabah STAR, Sabah Progressive Party and United Sabah National Organisation, joined hands with Barisan Nasional to govern the state.
Sabah PH representatives had, after GE15, expressed support for the state government led by Hajiji until the next state election.
Under the law, MPs who party-hop will have to vacate their seats, and by-elections will then be held to elect new representatives.
It, however, stipulates several exceptions, including MPs who are fired from their parties, and if a party is disbanded or cancels its registration.
An MP who is later appointed as Dewan Rakyat speaker will not be considered as a party-hopper.
The anti-hopping law also allows a political party to migrate en bloc from one coalition to another coalition. – The Vibes, December 12, 2022
