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GEORGE TOWN – Former chief minister Lim Guan Eng has stepped up pressure on the Penang government to hold a special sitting of the state assembly to further entrench the banning of party hopping.
The Air Putih assemblyman said the state needs to align its constitution with the federal one, considering the legal ramifications of the anti-hopping legislation which Parliament passed in July.
This is the third time in the past month that Lim has insisted on the special sitting although the state had previously stated that it will wait for the Penang High Court to dispose of a petition filed by four assemblymen challenging the state’s own anti-hopping law.
The state enactment was passed in the legislative assembly in 2012.
In a statement, Lim pointed to the move taken by Sabah. He noted that despite the state having its own anti-hopping law, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced a special sitting of the legislative assembly to amend the state constitution to be in line with the recent amendment to the federal constitution.
“The amendments concern outlawing party hopping by elected representatives,” said Lim, who is chairman of DAP, the party ruling the state.
“Hajiji said the special sitting of the Sabah assembly was necessary as Sabah did not want to be left behind and the anti-hopping provision was in line with the state’s commitment to ensure political stability.”
“Since Penang has also previously passed our own anti-hopping law like in Sabah, there should be a special sitting of the Penang assembly to align our state constitution with the federal one.
“Such a special sitting should be held by the end of September when the federal constitutional amendments are expected to be gazetted by then,” he added.
“The federal constitution does not consider elected representatives who are expelled as members from the party as party hopping, whilst the Penang state constitution does.”
Furthermore, holding a special sitting of the Penang assembly by the end of September would allow the state’s anti-hopping provisions to be in force in time to cover all state assemblymen newly elected in the upcoming 15th general election.
He said the polls are expected to be held in November following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s decision to bring forward Budget 2023 by three weeks to October 7.
He added that Ismail Sabri had buckled to the pressure from Umno for an early election this year instead of next year when it is due.
“Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan confirmed yesterday that the prime minister has ‘given his commitment’ that the coming general election will not be held in 2023, likely before December 2022.
To ensure that the voters’ choice will be respected and not perverted or betrayed by heartless, unprincipled, and opportunistic political mercenaries who hop parties for position and funding, it is imperative that the Penang assembly meet before the next general election expected in November, he said. – The Vibes, August 30, 2022