THE State Cabinet has agreed to table the Anti-Hop Bill that was recently passed in parliament and is now awaiting royal assent in the State Assembly for adoption, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Bill effectively prevents elected representatives from changing parties at will without vacating their seats.
The Chief Minister said the move is in line with the State Government’s commitment to create political stability in Sabah after being subjected to uncertain political situations for a long time.
“We support anti-party hopping and we will present it in the DUN soon. What happened in the past is the past, now we want political stability in Sabah,” he said when launching the Jelajah Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) – Keningau Parliament programme at the District Community Hall in Keningau on Aug 28.
According to him, the Cabinet has agreed to bring the constitutional amendment to the special state assembly meeting so that “we can sleep well.
“We no longer have to look after here and there, jump here and there. Whatever has happened is enough, we want political stability.”
It was GRS’ first Jelajah programme after its launch last May. It was also attended by top leaders from GRS component parties Bersatu Sabah, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), Parti Maju Sabah (SAPP) and United Sabah National Organisation (Usno).
Hajiji, who is also the GRS Chairman, said Sabah did not want to be left behind on the matter. “We don’t need to jump around (parties) anymore,” he said.
He said another achievement of the State Government is the devolution of power to regulate electricity and gas supply from the Federal Government to the state by the end of next year.
According to him, related agencies in the Federal and State Governments are making follow-up action for preparations from the technical and legal aspects because this direction would involve the legislative process at both levels, namely the Parliament and the Sabah State Assembly.
He said as a preparation, the State Government would establish the Sabah Energy Commission.
Hajiji also said that GRS welcomed the participation of local parties who wished to join the coalition.
“GRS is a new political line that unites local leaders and parties to jointly develop Sabah in line with the aspirations and mandate of the people. The time has come for the people of Sabah to determine the future of the state through the GRS. We need to unite for the sake of the people and Sabah,” he stressed.
Some 7,000 people including Star President Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, PBS Deputy President Datuk Dr Yee Moh Chai, Bersatu Sabah Deputy Chief Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, Usno President Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, SAPP Deputy President Japiril Suhaimin and Star Deputy President and Programme Coordinator Chairman Datuk Robert Tawik.
Also present were Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS) President Datuk Seri Anifah Aman, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) President Datuk Peter Anthony, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah Deputy President Rina Jainal and leaders from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
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