KUCHING: One of the takeaways from the recent Melaka polls was that there is no place for party-hoppers in its legislative assembly.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in pointing this out said Parti Sarawak Bersatu (PSB), which comprises a number of elected representatives who had switched parties, may share the same fate as party-hoppers who were fielded and lost in the Melaka polls.
“Anyone who contests and wins on the ticket of whichever party they’re in should not jump ship and abandon their party in favour of another as their mandate was given based on the party they were in. If we change parties, it means we have turned our backs on those who have given us support on the polling day.
“I believe that there are acceptable reasons to change parties, but if only for ideological reasons, as we see in a handful of PSB candidates, PSB may also most likely receive the same fate as party-hoppers who have had a taste of the consequences in Melaka,” he said.
Abdul Karim said this at a press conference held after officiating at the Asajayaku Prihatin programme at a hotel, here on Monday (Nov 22).
Abdul Karim also described the Melaka state election which concluded with a resounding victory for Barisan Nasional (BN) as “a good development” for the people.
“It shows that the people are aiming for political stability. I believe the people of Melaka are fed up and angry with these political leaders who jump ships and often quarrel.
“From this, they have decided. They have chosen a party which they feel can lead and bring in development as well as stability,” he added.
He said he had never seen the BN coalition led by Umno have a convincing win in Melaka up until now.
“Even if we look at Umno, there are certain problems in leadership. But the people still chose them.
“This shows that the people have faith in the new candidates to field in the Melaka polls,” he explained.
