Kinabatangan: Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives who defect from their parties will face a RM50 million fine or legal action. BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that any BN representative who defects after the 17th Sabah State Election would be subject to this hefty penalty.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasized that although the Anti-Party Hopping Law reduces the likelihood of elected representatives switching parties, the additional penalty serves as a further deterrent. This move aims to prevent a repeat of past incidents where representatives switched allegiances. Dr Ahmad Zahid highlighted the importance of learning from past mistakes during his speech at the Jelajah TVET programme at Dataran Kinabatangan.

The Deputy Prime Minister urged all 45 BN candidates contesting in the upcoming Sabah polls to work diligently, emphasizing the opportunity for the coalition and UMNO to re-establish dominance in the region. He noted that the people of Sabah are eager for BN and UMNO to return to power and committed to advancing development in Kinabatangan.

Dr Ahmad Zahid, who also serves as the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, expressed his dedication to aiding the development of Kinabatangan. He outlined plans to enhance infrastructure beyond basic necessities like roads, electricity, and water supply, aiming to bring more comprehensive development to areas such as Lamag and Sukau.

The Sabah Legislative Assembly passed the State Constitution (Amendment) Bill on May 25, 2023, enforcing a ban on party-hopping among elected representatives. The Election Commission has scheduled polling day for the 17th Sabah State Election on November 29, with early voting set for November 25.