KOTA KINABALU: Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is calling for amendments in the Federal and state Constitutions for “anti-hop laws” to be included.
Party president Datuk Joseph Pairin Kitingan said this would ensure that elected representatives would have to quit their seats if they switched parties.
“These provisions would also ensure that the principle of honesty and sincerity in joining a political party and the ‘social contract’ between voters and their candidates is properly crystallised,” he said Thursday.
In 1986, the then PBS-led State Government adopted an amendment in the Sabah Constitution requiring assemblymen to vacate their seats if they resigned or were expelled.
However, in 1992, the High Court declared the anti-hop law unconstitutional as it went against the freedom of association as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
Pairin said Thursday the time was right for Parliament to adopt a similar anti-hop law.
“As we are enter the next phase of our nation building programme, at this period of global economic recession, all political leaders should give serious consideration to having the anti-hop law in our constitution,” he added.
Related story: Guan Eng: Need for anti-hopping law
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