Photo: Bernama
KOTA KINABALU: There will be enough time to debate the much-awaited anti-hopping Bill, says Sabah Speaker Datuk Seri Kadzim Yahya (pic).
He said the rest of the agenda listed for debate including amendments to land and forestry laws, scheduled in the state assembly on Thursday (May 25), were minor and the remaining time could be used for the debate on the anti-hopping Bill.
ALSO READ: Anti-hopping law to be tabled in Sabah soon
Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) had asked about the Bill at the state assembly sitting before the question-and-answer session began on Tuesday (May 23).
Shafie wanted to know if the agenda was feasible as there were several other Bills to be tabled and the anti-hopping Bill was the last on the list.
He felt that it was a more pressing issue compared to the others listed.
He asked if it was possible to do away with "less pressing" matters and move the anti-hopping Bill to the top of the list.
ALSO READ: Anti-party hopping Bill not on agenda for Sabah State Assembly sitting next week, says Speaker
Shafie also wanted clarification on a statement by Kadzim on May 16 when he was quoted as saying that the anti-party hopping Bill was not listed on the agenda of the assembly sitting.
Shafie said according to his statement at that time, Kadzim felt that even if the Bill were tabled, it would be debated at length and a special sitting would probably be required.
To this, Kadzim said that when the question was posed to him, he had yet to receive the letter for the anti-hopping Bill to be tabled and only received it later that evening.
ALSO READ: Sabah's Anti-Hopping Bill: 'Better jump now,' PKDM president quips at wavering MPs
He also said his statement was a personal view and his thoughts on the matter did not affect the sitting schedule.
Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob (GRS-Sindumin) interjected and cited a point of order, stating that whatever the Speaker decided on the agenda of the sitting was final and could not be disputed.
