FORMER minister Datuk Mohamaddin Ketapi, who was among 11 lawmakers not present during the Dewan Rakyat vote for the anti-hopping Bill, has jumped parties once more.
Mohamaddin won his Lahad Datu seat on a Warisan ticket during the 14th General Elections (GE14) in 2018. Last October, he left the party and became an independent MP in support of the Sabah state Government.
In November, he officially joined Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM). However, he quit barely one year later in June, again becoming an independent in support of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS).
Two months later, Mohamaddin is now a Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) member, making him the party’s fourth MP and first state assemblyman in Sabah.
He is also the newly-appointed chairman of its Sabah chapter, according to The Star.
In a statement today, the former tourism, arts and culture minister said he chose to join PBM after studying the party’s constitution, and because of its struggle to regain the rights and autonomy of East Malaysia as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
The Segama assemblyman added that the united “powers of the people” from Sabah and Sarawak will solve the current political stability in the country, which he said was “unprecedented”.
He gave three reasons for this. First, he noted that PBM is the only Borneo-born party that has successfully made an impact in the peninsular, evident from the number of MPs and state assemblypersons on this side of the South China Sea who have joined PBM.
“Good service record, no scandals”
“Secondly, the leadership of PBM, which was founded in Sarawak, has a good service record to the people and is not associated with any scandals relating to abuse of power.
“Thirdly, after the mess of the country’s political chess match, the political leaders of Sarawak have proved that they can unite to defend the people’s power in the region and become a kingmaker,” he said.
Mohamaddin added: “This is something that all politicians from Borneo (Sabah and Sarawak) need to take note of; it is these two regions that can actually decide who will form the Government.”
On July 28, the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2022 was passed in the Dewan Rakyat after it was voted in support by 209 MPs, well more than the two-thirds majority needed. Mohamaddin was among the 11 MPs absent during the voice vote.
On Aug 9, the Dewan Negara passed the Bill as well. It is now up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to give his royal assent before the Bill and political anti-hopping are gazetted into law.
Meanwhile, The Star reported that Parti Kuasa Rakyat, which is headed by Kamarazaman Yaakob, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s brother, will soon become a “strategic partner” of PBM.
This is so the two parties can ensure greater political power at the national level and since both parties are friendly to Barisan Nasional (BN).
Separately, PBM president Datuk Larry Sng said that the party plans to contest in the same parliamentary seats its MPs currently hold during the upcoming 15th General Elections (GE15).
PBM’s current federal lawmakers are Sng (Julau), Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin (Ampang), Steven Choong (Tebrau) and now Mohamaddin (Lahad Datu). – Aug 28, 2022
Main photo credit: The Mole
