ENGKILILI, Nov 6 — The Sarawak government will table a Bill to amend the State Constitution to bar any state assemblyman from jumping parties, Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg said today.
He said the Bill will be tabled when the Sarawak State Assembly sits later this month.
“We will improve our State Constitution to keep abreast with the federal anti-party hopping law,” he said at the Sarawakku Sayang programme here.
He said the state government wanted to discourage defections among state assemblymen.
“If there are too many ‘frogs’, it will be difficult for us. They know how to croak only, but they don’t work for the people.
“Therefore, we will amend the State Constitution. If you win as an Independent candidate, it will be difficult for you to join any party,” he said, adding any state assemblyman who switches party will be disqualified from the state assembly.
He said this was the first time that he was announcing that the state government would be amending the State Constitution in line with the recent amendment to the Federal Constitution.
“We don’t want political frogs in Sarawak because the people want those with good character, not those who jump from one party to another,” he said.
He said politics is not about personal interest, but a platform to fight for the people.
Abang Johari said he has been in politics for over 40 years, concentrating on serving the people and his party, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
He said he agreed to give way to Tan Sri Adenan Satem when asked by then chief minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud in 2014.
“I told Taib I would support Tok Nan to be the next chief minister,” he said.
