KOTA KINABALU: Sabah must have an anti-party hopping law as soon as possible to ensure political stability in the state, says Putatan Umno.
Division chief Jeffrey Nor Mohammad said that the political scenario in Sabah is far from stable as state assemblymen were still jumping from one party to another.
"In Putatan alone, we have seen one assemblyman from Warisan leaving to support the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah government," he said in a statement Friday (April 21).
He said this situation could happen again any time.
"Therefore, I urge the state to quickly table this bill and pass it in the state legislative assembly," Jeffrey said.
He said although Sabah only had to have its state election in 2025, many things can happen if the anti-party hopping bill is not passed.
He said the state had promised to table the bill in November 2022, but it has yet to do so.
Jeffrey said the "disgusting" actions of some state representatives who choose power and position over the people's mandate had to be stopped once and for all for stability in the government.
"Their excuses that they leave their parties for the rakyat's sake are outdated and lame. The people have already lost their confidence in such leaders," he said.
He urged GRS leader and Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to stop stalling and to table the bill as soon as possible, so that they can move in tandem with the Federal Government.
"It would be an extreme embarrassment for Sabah if we continue to put this bill on hold as we are one of the last few states that has yet to pass it," said Jeffrey.
He said the refusal to table the bill would feed the notion that the state government is still trying to buy off other assemblymen.
He said it is time for Sabah to practise mature politics and put an end to gross political practices.
