I will eradicate all party hoppers in Sabah, says Bung Moktar

KUALA LUMPUR: After five former Sabah Umno assemblymen officially joined Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin has vowed to eradicate the party-hopping culture in the state.

The Kinabatangan MP also said elected representatives in Sabah are known for changing their political affiliations for money and positions.

"I'm ashamed because the majority of Sabah assemblymen are like that... Some even became GLC heads for betraying the party.

"To those without loyalty and integrity, we will ensure your 'extinction'," said Bung Moktar, who is also Sabah Umno chief during his speech in Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 21).

Earlier Tuesday (Feb 21), the five former Umno assemblyman – Datuk Yusof Yacob (Sindumin), Datuk James Ratib (Sugut), Datuk Hamid Awang (Balung), Datuk Jasnih Daya (Pantai Dalit), and Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari (Tempasuk) – joined PGRS.

The five had previously refused to be part of a plot to oust Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Sabah Chief Minister in January.

Bung Moktar then trained his guns on Ratib and Yusof, claiming that they had a track record of switching parties.

He also urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the defecting assemblymen.

Ratib quit Umno following GE14 in 2018 to join Upko and in June 2020 he left Upko to become an independent supporting Perikatan Nasional.

Ratib later rejoined Umno and contested in GE15.

Yusof, a three-term Sipitang MP from 1995 to 2004 under Umno left the party in 2018 to join Warisan. He returned to the Barisan fold in May 2022 and competed in GE15.

Meanwhile, Bung Moktar questioned the Sabah government's delay in tabling the anti-party hopping law.

GRS secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun previously said the state government is expected to table the anti-party hopping bill in its state assembly next month.

Aside from the five defecting assemblymen, three Warisan assemblymen also officially joined PGRS on Tuesday (Feb 21).

They are Norazlinah Arif (Kunak), Chong Chen Bin (Tanjong Kapor) and Mohammad Mohamarin (Banggi).