KOTA KINABALU: Claims that assemblymen were bought off to cross the floor are baseless, says Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) chairman said that all assemblymen who crossed floors did it of their own free will as they were looking after the interests of the people in the state.
"We vehemently deny the accusations by some parties who stated that assemblymen were bought off or given bribes.
"That is not true – you can ask the representatives who crossed over. They supported (the government) because they thought it was necessary to support the existing government for the good and the interests of Sabah," he told reporters in Tuaran on Sunday (Feb 26).
Hajiji was commenting on recent claims made by Warisan president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Sabah Barisan chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin in Parliament during debates.
On Parti KDM president Datuk Peter Anthony's decision to support the GRS government, Hajiji said that he welcomed the party's support.
Parti KDM withdrew its support for GRS to align itself with Sabah Barisan and Warisan during the Jan 6 attempted move to topple Hajiji's government.
"It is up to them (KDM) to accept my leadership and support. I thank them. It is their decision done on their own free will," he added.
Hajiji, who now leads Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah and its allies, has the support of slightly over two-thirds of the 79-member state assembly following defections of opposition assemblymen from Barisan and Warisan following the crisis.
On whether Sabah would table the anti-party hopping law, Hajiji said that he will discuss the matter with the state cabinet.
Nine of Warisan's 23 assemblymen have left the party over the last two years and Sabah Barisan lost four earlier this month.
Most have announced that they were joining Gagasan Rakyat led by Hajiji.
There is speculation that one to three Warisan assemblymen might be quitting in the next few days and will support Hajiji.
