KUCHING: Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs and UKAS) Datuk Abdullah Saidol said that he agrees with the provision of anti-party hopping to be adopted in Sarawak.
However, he does not agree with Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili’s suggestion for Sarawak to take immediate action in amending the State Law to be in line with the federal amendment, within 60 days.
“I feel that we need to study this matter in detail, and I believe if our leaders at the State Cabinet level agree and approve it, then we are able to table the matter in the DUN (state legislative assembly) sitting which is held in November,” he said in a press conference at Grand Margherita Hotel here.
Abdullah, who is also Semop assemblyman, added there was no provision that required Sarawak to amend the legislation within 60 days.
Commenting on the recently passed Anti-Party Hopping Bill in Parliament, he believed the people want a democratic system that is healthy and with integrity.
“When a candidate becomes the elected representative, he or she will stand and campaign on top of the party’s principle and struggle as well serving the people.
“But after winning (the election) and he or she changed their stance just to save their own political career, to me, I feel that is a dishonorable act because in general they have betrayed the people’s trust and the mandate given to them,” he said.
He went on to say the position of such a person should be suspected because it tarnishes the mandate and the trust given by the people.
“The party hopping culture is capable of contaminating the integrity of the country’s democracy and causing the country’s administrative and policy system to become unstable.
“Apart from that, the confidence of foreign investors can also be affected,” said Abdullah.
