Sarawak does not need to enact its own anti-party hopping Bill, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

According to the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu vice-president, this is because the Election Act is a federal and not state law.

He said the state is just waiting for the Bill to be gazetted so that it can be utilised and enforced.

“Seeing how the Bill passed unanimously, it reflects a camaraderie feeling on the matter among the MPs which is really good.

“And so, if any individuals plan on contesting for a party, they should opt to remain with that party rather than jumping ship here and there halfway as that should not be the way. That is a betrayal of trust given by the people,“ he told reporters after attending the 23rd Meeting of Asean Sub-Committee on Culture (SCC) and the 11th Meeting of Asean Plus Three Cultural Cooperation (APTCCN) gala dinner last night.

Abdul Karim added the Bill would pave the way for positive developments in the country’s political landscape.

The Dewan Rakyat passed the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill (No. 3) 2022 on Provisions Preventing Members of Parliament from Switching Parties by a two-thirds majority yesterday.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun announced 209 MPs voted for the motion during the bloc vote, while 11 were not in attendance.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said the Bill will be tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Negara on Aug 9.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by HARRY IZZDIN

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