KOTA KINABALU, 30 Jan 2009: Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed support for the proposal to introduce an anti-hop law to ensure political stability in the country.
“It needs to be looked into again. It is not that we fear that more will leave the Barisan Nasional (BN) but what is important is the question of principle,” he told reporters after attending a Chinese New Year open house at the residence of Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk VK Liew.
Muhyiddin, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, said there was a need to look at the proposal seriously because of the current political scenario.
“Personally, I agree for a re-look of the earlier provisions in the Federal Constitution.
“But, of course, it’s entirely up to BN leaders to see the rationale in amending the constitution (to enable the enactment of the proposed anti-hop law) and find out what the people think about it,” he said.
He was asked to comment on Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) and Sabah Deputy Chief
Minister Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s remarks yesterday that the time was ripe to amend the constitution to enact the proposed law.
While it was ruling the state, PBS enacted such a law in the 1980s but it was later declared ultra-vires the Federal Constitution as it restrained one’s freedom of association.
Asked on the outcome of the Umno supreme council meeting last night, Muhyiddin said the party had agreed in principle to beef up Umno’s disciplinary board by increasing the number of members in it.
However, he said there was no decision made on the status of the present board members.
The Umno disciplinary board is currently being chaired by Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail, a former defence minister in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet in the late 1980s. — Bernama
