Wan Junaidi says 'Bersatu 4' left before GE15, anti-hopping law not triggered

The four Sabah MPs who left Bersatu need not vacate their seats as they left their party in early October before contesting in the 15th general election (GE15), said former law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Based on reliable sources that he received, he said the quartet contested under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) banner and as direct members of the coalition, not Bersatu. 

“Having been informed by various reliable sources this morning and this afternoon that these four members of Bersatu have left their party in early October 2022 before contesting for the general election on Nov 19, 2022.

“In which case, I have to agree with constitutional lawyer Tengku Fuad Tengku Ahmad that the anti-party hopping law does not affect them,” he said in a joint statement issued this evening. 

The statement was issued by Wan Junaidi (above) and Fuad, who is also the legal adviser to the Sabah government.

For the record, Wan Junaidi was the minister who oversaw the passage of the anti-hopping law earlier this year.

Therefore, both Wan Junaidi and Fuad concurred that the four lawmakers’ association with Bersatu ended in early October before the election was held.

“As such, they did not breach the anti-party hopping provisions of the Federal Constitution.”

Wan Junaidi has changed his tune from a joint statement he made with Fuad yesterday, where he said that the four Sabah MPs in question have no choice but to vacate their seats once their exit from the party was formalised.

The four MPs are Armizan Ali (Papar), Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan (Batu Sapi), Jonathan Yasin (Ranau), and Matbali Musah (Sipitang).

This comes amid questions that the MPs would be forced to vacate their seats under the anti-party hopping law after GRS chairperson Hajiji Noor announced on Dec 10 that all state Bersatu lawmakers – except for Beluran MP Ronald Kiandee – were quitting the party while pledging support for GRS.

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