By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, July 28: Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Idris Buang supports the introduction of an anti-party hopping law in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
To him, when an elected representative whether an assemblyman or a MP is voted in, there are two levels of trust.
“It is not just a matter of ethical principle but also a big sense of trust which is seemingly ‘sacred and sacrosanct’ reposed upon the elected,” said Idris.
He pointed out there is a sense of trust between the voters and the one being voted for an office and secondly, there involves an equally important trust between the elected representative and the party he represents.
Idris also said, in many cases, an assemblymen or a MP is voted in based on the tickets he is holding,that is the party which he represents where he may be elected due to the party’s manifesto and policies and others.
“In both cases, there is trust. For an elected representative to hop to another party, he or she is breaching the trust granted by the voters and the party which has supported him,” Idris told DayakDaily.
He voiced his full support for the tabling of the anti-party hopping bill in Parliament and is in favour of the same bill being introduced in DUN, noting that for the time being, there has been no law protecting the trust that voters and political parties have, for their electoral candidates.
“Because there is no law, the trust may be breached by those who seek to secure their position, power, status or to achieve their personal ambition such as reaching a certain position or power.
“Worse if many of them were to team up as their decision may destabilise the country politically. This would not be good. If there is such a law (anti-party hopping law), it will be good. The law will be good to prevent some politicians making a mockery out of our democracy.
“Sarawak is stable in its politics but due to man’s fallibility, it would be good to have a law that prevents any breach of such trust,” said Idris who stressed that he spoke from a personal perspective despite being the Deputy Speaker of Sarawak DUN. — DayakDaily
