UNITED Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko) vice-president Ewon Benedick yesterday proposed for the anti-party hopping bill to be tabled at the Sabah assembly sitting in March.

The Kadamaian assemblyman said he had submitted the proposal to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.

He said it was also important to ensure that the state government formed after the 2020 elections is able to carry out the state’s development plans effectively.

“It (anti-party hopping bill) must be tabled as soon as possible at the next state assembly sitting this March and before the next state elections, which has to be held in about two years’ time.

“Here in Sabah, we need political stability. If we continue to change our chief minister and the state government through SD (statutory declaration), when will we achieve political stability to develop the state and the people?”  he said at a press conference last night.

Ewon, who is the state entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister and Penampang MP, will officially take over the office of Upko president from Wilfred Madius Tangau at the party’s 16th triennial general assembly today, while Madius will be appointed Upko honorary president. – Bernama, January 15, 2023.