Upko veep calls for anti-hopping bill to be tabled in Sabah

 

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

The Kadamaian assemblyperson said he had submitted the proposal to Chief Minister Hajiji Noor and the state government as it was deemed important to create political stability in the state.

He said it was also vital to ensure that the state government formed after the 2020 state election would be able to fully function in carrying out all the state’s development plans for the wellbeing of the people.

“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 election 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 statutory declarations, when will we achieve political stability to develop the state and the people?”  he said at a press conference tonight.

Ewon (above), who is the state entrepreneur development and cooperatives minister as well as Penampang MP, was met at the Upko Unity Night, which was also attended by party president Wilfred Madius Tangau.

In his speech earlier, Ewon said he wanted all “tompinai ko ngawi” (“my brothers” in Kadazandusun), especially those who fought with him in the party to have the courage to reprimand him when he starts leading the party as the new president tomorrow.

He said they should help keep him grounded to ensure that Upko remains on the right track for the sake of the party and the people of Sabah.

“Tompinai ko ngawi, work with me to develop the party, to fight for our beloved state and fellow Sabahans. I won’t be able to do this alone without all of you, let’s do this together,” he said.

Ewon will officially take over the office of Upko president from Madius at the party’s 16th triennial general assembly tomorrow, while Madius will be appointed as Upko honorary president.

- Bernama