KOTA KINABALU, Oct 2 — Sabah DAP condemned Likas lawmaker Junz Wong and six others who quit the party as its office bearers earlier today to join a local-based party.

The state chapter’s chairman Stephen Wong described the move as a betrayal to the voters and predicted that they will pay a "painful price for their arrogance and mistake”.

"No matter what the reason may be, they can never justify their betrayal, nor can they avoid the people’s questions or rationalise their ‘frog hopping’ behaviour. This is a culture most hated by people of Sabah and this culture must be ‘buried’ for the sake of Sabah,” Stephen said in a statement.

The Sandakan MP claimed that Junz was elected as an assemblyman by the majority of voters because of his party and demanded they relinquish their public office.

"They must resign if they are to quit the party or ‘jump’ to another party as they have betrayed the voters, there is no ambiguity!

"If he does not agree with the ideology and principles of DAP, why did he contest in the last election under the banner of DAP?” Stephen asked.

He also sneered at Junz’ motive for resigning, saying the latter could not claim concern for Sabah if he could not understand the fundamentals of democracy by respecting the wishes of voters.

"On our part, we in DAP Sabah solemnly stress that our leaders and members are Sabahan who are native-born Sabah and have defended the rights and interests of Sabah for many years, and launched a number of practical programmes to help and pledge to reform Sabah so that Sabah gets its autonomy and equality. The efforts of DAP Sabah are clear and obvious to all,” Stephen said.

He added that Sabahans will remember the party-hopping antics of politicians in the past for their own interests and will reject them at the polls.

He also pointed out that Junz had in 2013 chastised Dr Hiew King Cheu when the former Sabah DAP chief quit and demanded the Luyang assemblyman resign.

Stephen called on Junz to practise what he preached and resign as Likas assemblyman "immediately”.

"Over 50 years of DAP’s history, we have adhered to the concept and principles of reformation, we did not give up nor did we compromise. We are willing to cooperate based on common ideals, but it should be bound to a pre-condition of sincerity. Otherwise, we will adhere to our principles and fight to the very end of the battle,” he said.

Stephen also apologised to Likas constituents on behalf of DAP.

"We are very sorry but the resignation of Junz Wong from DAP does not mean that DAP cannot or will not continue to serve the people in Likas.

"We pledge to continue to serve the people and fight for their interests. We want to firmly emphasise that we will not give up, we will continue the struggle to strive for fairness and social justice for the people, to defeat the corrupt BN government and promise to build a better future for all Sabahans,” he said.