THE positions of four Sabah Bersatu lawmakers who contested under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner will be determined by the anti-party hopping law under article 49A of the Federal Constitution, Muhyiddin Yassin said.

In a statement, the Bersatu president revealed that he is disappointed with the state leadership’s action by refusing to show loyalty towards the party.

“I am disappointed by their actions. The party had shown them faith by naming them candidates in the last state elections.

“I believe the other Bersatu members in Sabah will soldier on and stay committed to the party. The position of four MPs who left Bersatu will be determined by the anti-party hopping law,” said Muhyiddin.

An amendment of the Federal Constitution, which includes the addition of article 49A (pertaining to members of Parliament) and a change to the eighth schedule (pertaining to state assemblymen) bars MPs from leaving the parties, and if they do, they automatically lose their seats.

There are three exceptions, however: the dissolution or cancellation of the registration of the politician’s party; the expulsion of the politician from his party; or the politician resigning from his party upon becoming Dewan Rakyat or a state assembly speaker.

Previously, Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Mohd Noor, who is also GRS chairman, unanimously agreed with other Sabah Bersatu leaders to leave the party but remain under GRS.

GRS, which previously comprised Bersatu, Parti Bersatu Sabah, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku, Sabah Progressive Party and United Sabah National Organisation, partnered with Barisan Nasional to govern Sabah.

The four GRS MPs from Bersatu are Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Matbali Musah (Sipitang), Armizan Mohd Ali (Papar) and Jonathan Yassin (Ranau).

The 14 assemblymen are Hajiji (Sulaman), Masidi (Karanaan), Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Fairuz Renddan (Pintasan), Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar (Kawang), Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Rubin Balang (Kemabong), Samad Jambri (Labuk), Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas), Hassan A. Gani Pg Amir (Sebatik), Ruddy Awah (Pitas), Abdul Ghani Mohamed Yassin (Nabawan), and nominated assemblymen Amisah Yassin and Jaafari Walliam.

The Sabah assembly has yet to adopt the anti-party hopping law and as such, its assemblymen can move out of the party, while Bersatu-linked MPs, who contested on a GRS ticket, would be subjected to the anti-party hopping law.

Meanwhile, Muhyiddin announced that Ronald Kiandee is now Sabah Bersatu chief and Sabah Perikatan Nasional liaison chief.

“Dr Ronald, who is also Bersatu vice-president and Beluran MP, will lead the party and will reconstruct the party in Sabah,” he added. – December 11, 2022.