Kota Kinabalu: Parti Warisan Supreme Council member Azhar Matussin (pic) said Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi’s reason for leaving the party is cheap and conventional.
“Those that party hop always cite the rationale of ‘jumping for the people’,” Azhar said, adding that the majority understand that such reasons are only for personal political survival and not for the people.
Azhar, who is Darau Assemblyman, said this in response to Mohamaddin’s announcement that he would run for the Lahad Datu seat again, citing “jumping for the people” as his reason for quitting Warisan.
“Mohamaddin took the easy way by rejecting the mandate received in the state election, which should not be accepted by all parties.
“We also inquire as to which other country he is referring to when he mentions other countries’ talk of freedom and party hopping.
“As we all know, in certain developed and civilised countries, if elected representatives leave a party, the seats are automatically vacated and elections are held,” Azhar said
In response to the party-hopping issue, Azhar said:
“Anti-Party Hop laws have been enacted in Singapore, Thailand, India, Israel, Portugal, Bulgaria, Romania, Armenia and the Seychelles.
“I don’t deny that there are developed countries without anti-party hop legislation. However, we rarely hear elected officials switch political parties.
“This is due to the political maturity of the people’s representatives there. The bulk of politicians or elected representatives in other countries are financially secure before entering politics, but this is not the case in our country.
“There are those who utilise politics to stabilise their personal economics, though not all. He said “this cannot be denied.”
Mohamaddin, who is Segama Assemblyman, has the right to run in the 15th General Election, according to Azhar, and no one can stop him.
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