Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has been greatly affected by party-hopping culture due to the absence of a specific law that prohibits the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) members from switching parties, said Senator Bobbey Suan.
He said what happened in Sabah therefore should serve as a lesson because the effects of such negative practices caused the people’s mandate to be betrayed.
Because of that, he said the party-hopping culture should be stopped through the enactment of a special law as had been approved in the Dewan Rakyat recently and in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.
“Therefore, with this (Anti-Party Hopping Law), we don’t have to worry about the culture of disloyalty of a leader, but in fact, we open more space for the community to assess who and what is best to be their elected representative.
“This is because the power we have today comes from the people, belongs to the people and for the people,” he said when debating the Constitution (Amendment) Bill (No.3) regarding the ban on Members of Parliament changing parties, at the Dewan Negara.
While fully supporting the Bill, Bobbey said, he is confident that the approval of the Bill in the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara will be greeted with joy and happiness by the people of Sabah.
“Nevertheless, we are also aware that this ban only covers Members of Parliament, which is why I also call for the ADUN to initiate this proposal to be brought up in the debate at the respective ADUN level.
“If the effort to extend this proposal can be realised, I am sure that a more pragmatic democratisation effort will be more guaranteed.
“I believe, if we are able to regain the stability of the country in all respects, we will be able to provide the best services especially to the people out there,” he said.