KOTA KINABALU: Whoever wants to jump parties better do so now, says Datuk Peter Anthony.
The Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia (PKDM) president said the tabling of the Anti-Hopping bill was expected any day during this four-day state assembly sitting, and those who want to switch parties should do so quickly.
"Even if the Bill is tabled now, it would still take a month or two for it to be gazetted so whoever wants to jump, do so faster," he said during a press conference in relation to his deputy president Datuk Juil Nuantim quitting the party.
In wishing Juil 'selamat maju jaya' (in referring to the state’s Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda for progress), he said Juil’s decision to leave PKDM was somewhat expected as the latter did not attend any of their latest party meetings held.
Anthony said they were not informed of it, there was no discussion nor was there any explanation given as to why he chose to leave.
"But Juil himself said in his statement to the media that it is because there was no allocation given as assemblyman for his Limbahau constituency," said the Melalap assemblyman.
He said if that was his basis for leaving, Juil should be aware that the Prime Minister had assured that the allocations for development would be distributed soon, and even if there was no money given, grassroot supporters would understand.
"For us, if there is allocation, we accept. If not, it’s alright. We can still continue to serve the people," said Anthony.
He said the party would continue supporting the government of the day as it worked towards bringing development to the people in the state.
He said he would also support the Anti-Hopping Bill because he did not want to lose assemblymen as well in coming elections.
On allegations that Juil had brought along most PKDM members out of the party, Anthony said the party machinery in Limbahau was set up by himself and not Juil, and so there was no issue of the members there all leaving with Juil.
Asked if Juil had left because of speculations that PKDM would team up with Parti Warisan and Umno, he said he was unsure.
He clarified that PKDM had not made any decisions on who they would team up with because that was something to decide in the next election, and not now.
"Our party policy is that we would support any government of the day," said Anthony.
He said there could be suggestions and even offers from other parties for PKDM to join so and so party, probably because they see the party as a new force to be reckoned with.
"Our candidate even toppled Kota Marudu MP and Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) president in the last election and maybe this is why there are suggestions for us to join here and there," he said.
Earlier, Anthony said the tabling of the Anti-Hopping bill should have been done earlier in line with the Federal move as it did not require the Cabinet to seek consent from the head of state or King.
"It only requires the bill to be tabled, passed in the Dewan and then presented to the head of state to be gazetted," he said.
Asked if the party would accept Juil again if the latter wanted to rejoin the party in future, he said he could not do so anymore if the Anti-Hopping bill had been gazetted.
"We’ve lost one assemblyman but it’s ok. We will have more of them in future even with one leaving," he said.
Juil told reporters that he was quitting the party to become an independent due to various reasons including a lack of funding from the government for his constituents on Sunday (May 21).
