PENAMPANG: United Pasokmomogun KadazanDusun Murut Organization (UPKO) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok is in favour of the anti-hop law, on condition that those who hopped are allowed to re-contest in the by-election.
The Penampang member of parliament who was met at the launching of the district level Rubber National Key Result Area (NKEA) program in Kampung Togudon here yesterday.
“Well, I have already been asked this question three, four years ago, and I told the press then that I am in favour of an anti-hop law provided that these people who hopped are allowed to participate in the election because at the moment, if you resign, you will not be allowed to stand for an election for five years.
“So I think it will be unfortunate for people who have for some reasons or another decided to leave the party and they are forced to resign and at the same time they cannot offer themselves for election on the ensuing by-election; I think that would not be good as well.
“I think yes, you can have anti-hop law but allow those who are hopping to stand for elections,” he said.
Dompok was asked to comment on a recent proposal by Penang DAP to enact an anti-hopping law and whether there is a need to enact one in Sabah.
Recently, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was quoted as saying that the state was looking at enacting an anti-hopping law in November, ahead of the 13th General Election which must be called by next April.
On Sunday, Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan opined there was merit in bringing about a review of the anti-hopping law to stop politicians from changing parties after being elected to parliament or state assemblies.
The then-PBS government in Sabah had enacted such a law in the 1980s but it was later declared ultra vires to the Federal Constitution as it restrained one’s freedom of association.
The anti-hopping law is basically aimed at curtailing elected representatives, who won the election on a certain political party ticket, to cross over to another party.