GRS not against tabling anti-hopping bill for Sabah: Masidi

KOTA KINABALU – Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has no objection to tabling the anti-hopping bill at the state assembly and further discussions are needed for this to happen, said the coalition’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.

The local government and housing minister said GRS component party leaders will obviously need to sit down and discuss the matter, but added he was positive the move to table the bill will be accommodated.

Masidi said the anti-hopping bill can establish stability in governing the state and is good for Sabah politics.

“It is a question of when (to table the bill), whether we need to have a special session just for this, or if we want to consider having it passed during the budget session in either November or December. We have no problem as far as (the state) government is concerned.

“But I can’t say for sure because I’m not the speaker. I can’t decide which agenda has to be decided on, but what I’m saying is that obviously we have no objections,” he told reporters here today.

He was met at the state-level Warriors’ Day celebration and launching of the National Month celebrations and Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign for the state at Padang Merdeka here, which were launched by Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

On Thursday, the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 to create a provision prohibiting MPs)from changing parties received the support of more than two-thirds of MPs, with 209 out of 220 MPs being in favour.

Also on Thursday, Parti Bersatu Sabah president Datuk Seri Maximus Ongkili, who is also minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak affairs), said it is important for Sabah and Sarawak assemblymen to quickly table the anti-hopping law.

Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that he had been informed that Sabah, Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan would amend their constitutions to enable the amendment to be enforced in those states. – Bernama, July 31, 2022