KOTA KINABALU, March 2 — Sabah will table an anti-hopping law when the state Cabinet decides it is ready, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman said he will raise the matter with his Cabinet, which will then decide in due time.

"Be patient. There are state assembly sittings coming up,” he said.

Hajiji, who had previously said the plan was to table the anti-party hopping last November, denied claims from the Opposition that his administration was intentionally delaying the matter for its benefit.

Instead, he said it was the state Cabinet’s prerogative to decide when to table the law.

"So far, we haven’t decided. So, be patient. We will table it at the state assembly,” he said again.

Political observers and Opposition like Sabah Muda and Parti Warisan have insinuated that the state government has intentionally delayed adopting the law to strengthen its own position to allow crossovers from other parties.

They have been urging the state government to expedite the adoption of the anti-party hopping law after eight lawmakers from Warisan and Umno left their party to join Gagasan Rakyat.

Sabah was reportedly supposed to adopt the anti-hopping law following the Federal Constitution amendment in November last year but postponed the move.

Meanwhile, Sarawak approved an amendment to its state constitution to prohibit its members from changing political parties mid-term on November 22.