KUCHING: The State Legislative Assembly (DUN) passed the Constitution of the State of Sarawak (Amendment) (No.2) Bill 2022 to bring the state constitution in line with the anti-party hopping law incorporated in the Federal Constitution last July.
Deputy Minister in Premier’s Department (Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations) Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Syeed Aman Ghazali tabled the bill which was passed when 77 members voted in favour.
Hasidah said the amendments comprise two parts. Firstly, it relates to the prohibition of change of an elected member’s political party to stop party hoping.
It also touches on the membership of the DUN which will not be affected in the event of the dissolution of the assemblyman’s party or his expulsion from his political party said.
“The amendments will ensure that the State Constitution contains a similar provision and not inconsistent with the Federal Constitution,” she added.
The amendments include adding a new Article 16B and deleting the existing clauses (6) and (7) of Article 17 of the State Constitution.
Debating the bill, Safiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro) said the amendments were important to prevent party hopping which had resulted in the country witnessing three prime ministers in just one term recently.
“This initiative (amendment) is not only to appreciate and respect the people’s mandate through the democratic system but also to preserve political integrity in the state administration,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hasidah said the second part of the amendments is to revise Article 33 of the State Constitution.
“This is to enable this August House to pass a resolution or any future resolution, which will allow for the withdrawal of monies from the State Consolidated Fund in a manner provided by or consistent with both State and Federal Laws,” she said.
