KUALA LUMPUR: Party-hopping, while it must be discouraged, should be allowed after a general election to allow a federal government to be formed, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Pejuang-Langkawi) said.
The former prime minister said in the event that no single party is able to secure the minimum seats of 112 in the Dewan Rakyat, party-hopping after a general election could ensure political stability in the country.
"After (a general) election, (if) not one party gets to secure more than 50 per cent of the seats (in the Dewan Rakyat) needed to establish a government, then we may need another election.
"If a minority government is formed during that time, the Dewan Rakyat can simply bring them down by issuing no-confidence votes.
"Yes, we can hold another election but that would not solve the problem. This is why we need to allow party-hopping, so that a government can be formed instead of going for another election," he said when debating the anti-party hopping bill tabled for its second reading in the House today.
However, Dr Mahathir said the process of party-hopping after a general election must include getting the approval and support of the supreme councils of the various parties.
He added that the process must also follow the party constitutions.
"Hopefully this bill will receive two-thirds support so there will be no more situation where a democratically-elected government chosen by the people is toppled, while parties rejected by voters get to be in power."
Dr Mahathir was referring to the February 2020 coup, dubbed the "Sheraton Move", sparked by members of his then-coalition where the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled after Bersatu left the pact.