KUALA LUMPUR – Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin (Kinabatangan-BN) has praised PAS as a party with “integrity”, as its elected representatives were not prone to party-hopping.
During his debate at the royal address in Dewan Rakyat this evening, Bung moved to challenge the notion that PAS politicians would leave their party if they did not take power.
“I have always said that PAS is a party with integrity,” he said. “If you are the opposition, be one that is prudent and able to reprimand the government (when necessary).”
Making himself an example, Bung said he will continue to defend his personal values, regardless of whether he was in a position of power.
Bung was responding to a supplementary question by a parliamentarian on whether he considered PAS politicians as those who were prone to party-hopping.
Earlier, Bung slammed the prevalence of party hopping in the Sabah legislative assembly, adding that the recently-imposed anti-hopping law was not enforced in Sabah.
Bung said he believed this was why party members in Sabah could still be “bought”, adding that many did not intend to help the people but became leaders to serve own interests.
“Sabah state assemblymen like to (party) hop like monkeys, to the point that they forget that even the smartest (among them) is not immune to failure,” he said.
“As long as you betray (your party), you get positions, even though you are ineligible.
“(This is) because the state assembly does not think for the future of Sabahans, they often think about maintaining their power,” he added.
Bung also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to immediately investigate those involved with party hopping as the practice had tarnished the image of Sabah.
Bung pulled no punches in mentioning the names of several party hoppers, including Sugut representative Datuk James Ratib, who he said has joined every party in Malaysia to chase positions.
He also mentioned former Sabah Deputy Speaker Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob for his history of party-hopping.
Bung also said those who committed party-hopping should be “eradicated from the land of Sabah”. – The Vibes, February 21, 2023
