Warisan, Sabah Muda push for anti-hopping law in state

KOTA KINABALU – Warisan and Sabah Muda have called for the state government to adopt the anti-hopping law in the coming state assembly session.

“Jumping parties have become a norm and a culture among elected representatives and leaders in Sabah. This has brought about a negative impact and image to the state and the people of Sabah.

“The people are becoming fed up and disappointed by the actions taken by the elected representatives jumping parties,” said Sabah Muda chief Amos Thien, while urging the younger generation not to condone such political culture.

In a statement, Thien also said the state should provide equal allocation to opposition constituencies to stop political crossovers.

Meanwhile, Warisan secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua Jr agreed that the anti-party hopping law should be immediately implemented in Sabah.

He said he believed the state government intentionally delayed the implementation of the law despite amendments to the federal constitution relating to party-hopping.

“It is widely known that the federal constitution is the supreme law of the country and other laws not aligned with it will be ultra vires.

“Therefore, the Sabah government must adopt the act in the state in the state assembly soonest.”

Sabah was supposed to adopt the anti-hopping law in November last year but it was postponed.

Loretto said the actions of people’s representatives shifting parties tarnishing Sabah’s image – now seen as a region infamous for its assemblymen who like to jump from one party or another, and also tarnishing the credibility of the unity government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. 

“It is as if the prime minister approves of their actions,” he added. 

Yesterday, Petagas assemblyman Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari announced leaving Warisan to support Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah led by Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 

This came barely two weeks after three party members Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi), Ben Chong (Tg Kapor) and Norazlinah Arif (Kunak) left the party to become independent rep friendly to the Sabah government Gabungan Rakyat Sabah. 

Warisan is now left with 15 assemblymen, after losing a total of ten while accepting two reps from DAP. – The Vibes, February 28, 2023