PKDM rep latest to support government side but as Independent: Strongest mandate: Anti-Hop due
Published on: Monday, May 22, 2023
By:
Hayati Dzulkifli, Jonathan Nicholas
Juil (third right) posing with some of the main committee of PKDM Limbahau who are following him to leave PKDM.
Kota Kinabalu: The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led State Government will table the state-level Anti-Hop law at the four-day State Assembly sitting beginning (Monday), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.He said contrary to allegations by the opposition, the State Government did not purposely delay tabling of the Bill to curb state elected representatives from switching sides.
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The Anti-Hop law involves amendment to the State Constitution and this requires approval from the Head of State and King before it can be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly, he said in his opening remarks at the pre-council meeting on Sunday.
“So, it is not true as claimed by the opposition that we are purposely delaying it. We have to comply with procedures,” he said.
Hajiji said the State Constitution Amendment Bill needs a two-third majority in the State Assembly in order to be passed.
“I am confident that the Bill will get the full support from the GRS and Pakatan Harapan (PH) members.
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“I also urge the opposition representatives to support the Bill, since they have also advocated for the Anti-Hop law to be passed in Sabah,” he said.
The State Constitution Amendment Bill is among four Bills to be tabled in the first meeting of the fourth term of the State Assembly from May 22 to May 25.
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After the pre-council meeting, the Chief Minister attended the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations hosted by Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) at the Hakka Hall and Parti Solidariti Sabah (Star) at Raia Hotel. This means the State Government under Hajiji currently enjoys the support of 48 out of 73 assembly members, excluding the six nominated ones.
Some 41 are from Gabungan Rakyat Sabah comprising 26 from Gagasan Rakyat, seven from PBS, six from Star Sabah, one from Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (Harapan Rakyat) and seven from Pakatan Harapan (PH).
The other two PKDM members are Melalap Assemblyman Datuk Peter Anthony and Bandau Assemblyman cum Kota Marudu MP Datuk Wetrom Bahanda.
There are 14 assembly members from Warisan who are in the opposition together with 13 from Barisan Nasional (BN). Some in BN support GRS.
In KUNAK, Parti Warisan President Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the Anti-hop Bill must be tabled in the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting this week to ensure political stability in the future.
“It is intended to avoid instability, so that there will be no jumping here and there for the quest of power. Don’t play around with the people’s mandate,” he said.
Meanwhile, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (PKDM) Deputy President Datuk Juil Nuatim has decided to dump the party he co-founded with its President Datuk Peter Anthony, in January, last year.
He said he would be a pro-government Independent Assemblyman and that the decision has nothing to do with this week’s tabling of the State-level Anti-Hop Bill at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
“We also do not know and it cannot be certain whether the Anti-Hop Bill will be passed,” said Juil who is also Limbahau Assemblyman.
Juil said he made the decision for the sake of the grassroots and following the will of the people in his constituency who want development.
“I have relinquished my post in PKDM and at the moment, I am an independent assemblyman who supports Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and its Chairman who is also the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor.
“I also have no intention to antagonise anyone and I am leaving the party not because of the party president. I respect him and he is a nice and kind man.
“There are no gripes between me and PKDM President Datuk Petr Anthony. He understands,” he said. Juil won the Limbahau state seat on Warisan’s ticket during the Sabah State election in Sept 2020.
The PKDM Deputy President for non-Muslim Bumiputra said he is ditching the party together with the party’s main committee for Limbahau.
According to him, his intentions reached the ears of Hajiji at an open house event in Papar on Saturday.
“It’s just that Limbahau will continue to be underdeveloped without funding. Better to be with the government in line with Papar MP (Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali).
“Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) doesn’t want to absorb KDM and that is okay,” he said.
PKDM had been applying to join the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) coalition since 2020 but never received any reply.
Juil said filling his position could be Peter’s son and PKDM is left with Peter (Melalap assemblyman) and Datuk Wetrom Bahanda (Bandau assemblyman) who is also Member of Parliament for Kota Marudu.
Hajiji said he was unaware (on Juil exiting PKDM) and hoped Juil would choose a party if he continues in politics.
“It’s up to him. We live in a democracy but the motion to introduce the Anti Hop Law will be tabled in the state sitting on Monday (today).
“He has not requested to join Gagasan Rakyat...he still has time (to choose a party),” Hajiji said at the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) Hari Raya open house at Hakka Hall on Sunday.
PBS Vice President and Limbahau Community Development Leader Datuk Johnny Mositun declined to comment on the issue.
Few months ago, PKDM supported a pact involving Barisan Nasional (BN) and Warisan that allegedly aimed to topple the GRS-led government.
However, the party made a U-turn and announced its stance of supporting GRS when BN-Warisan failed to bring down the ruling coalition in Sabah.
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