Anti-party hopping Bill will lead to healthier politics, says Salleh Said

KOTA KINABALU: A healthier form of politics can be expected once the proposed anti-party hopping Bill comes into force, said Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Said Keruak.

The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) Backbenchers Club chairman said the proposed Bill, which will be debated on in a special Parliament sitting on April 11, is welcome.

“This proposal to amend the Federal Constitution to pave the way for an anti-party hopping Bill is the result of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between the Federal Government and Pakatan Harapan,” he said during a breaking of fast programme with orphans on Saturday (April 9).

The former Sabah chief minister said elected representatives who contested under a particular political party should continue to continue to serve under that party.

“With this proposed anti-party hopping Bill, we’ll see a healthier form of politics,” he said.

Salleh said this change is needed for government stability.

On the state coalition’s name change to GRS-BN, he said such the move is welcome as long as the coalition’s main objective is to fulfil its mandate to the people.

Salleh was among the first to suggest registering GRS as a single entity last year.

He said the next move was to ensure that the state government remains stable and to fulfil its mandate to the people as many people, especially the youth, are starting to get fed up with endless politicking.

He said there was no change in working relations between the parties involved after GRS became GRS-BN, as they all understood their roles as leaders and representatives for the people.

“We practise three types of politics, which are the politics of development, politics of autonomy and politics of accommodation where all races get their rights protected,” Salleh said.

On questions about photos of a meeting between him and Tan Sri Musa Aman, he said the former sabah chief minister was his old friend and former boss.

“He has contributed a lot to the state and wants to see Barisan-GRS relations strengthened,” he said.