KUCHING: Sarawak DAP Chairman Chong Chieng Jen has called on Puncak Borneo MP Datuk Willie Mongin to resign following the latter’s acceptance into Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).
He accused Willie of taking advantage of the window period before the recently passed anti-party hopping law becomes enforceable.
Chong said Willie, who was elected under a Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) ticket, had done something that is morally wrong.
“Isn’t that the very Act that we have legislated? The anti-hopping law?
“That is the exact Act that we have received unanimous support for in Parliament,” he told the media after an Outstanding SPM Achievement Awards ceremony here, yesterday (Aug 7).
Chong added that if Willie were a man of honour, he should resign from the seat.
“He (Willie) also voted for the passing of the anti-hopping Bill. Be a true Yang Berhormat and resign from the seat,” he said.
As to when will the law will come into effect, Chong said it would be after the gazette of notification, adding “definitely before the 15th General Election”.
PBB’s decision to accept Willie’s application to join the party was confirmed on Saturday (August 6).
Previously in June, Willie, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Deputy Minister revealed that he had applied to join PBB.
He was one of 11 PKR MPs who left the party following the Sheraton Move in February 2020.
He was appointed deputy minister in the Perikatan Nasional-led (PN) government in March 2020 by former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and maintained his position when Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob took charge of the government in August 2021.