The bill was passed by the 75 assemblymen present today, Utusan Malaysia reported, with four lawmakers absent.

The amendments stipulate that assembly members who switch parties will forfeit their position in the assembly and have to vacate their seats.

However, this will not apply if an assemblyman is expelled from his or her party, or if the party is dissolved or has its registration cancelled.

The amendments also abolish the five-year automatic suspension for any assemblyman who has resigned, paving the way for former lawmakers to re-enter politics.

Chief minister Hajiji Noor said implementing the anti-hopping law was crucial to stop the culture of party-hopping, which had led to political instability and has disrupted Sabah’s development plans.

With the passing of the bill, Sabah became the ninth state to pass the anti-hopping law after Perak, Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang and Sarawak.

Meanwhile, Hajiji proposed Article 6 (7) of the Sabah Constitution be repealed because it was no longer in line with Article 6 (3).

Article 6 (3) states the Yang di-Pertua Negeri shall appoint as chief minister a member of the legislative assembly likely to command the confidence of a majority of the members of the assembly.

However, Article 6 (7) infers that the chief minister’s party will have taken a simple majority of seats. Hajiji suggested that this clause was no longer relevant given the complexity of Sabah politics and that coalitions tend to form the state government.

He said it would ease the duties of the head of state, who must consider a scenario where the major parties do not hold a majority.

Hajiji said the amendment was not intended to undermine the head of state’s power but rather to ease the process of appointing a chief minister.