KOTA KINABALU: The proposal to enact a law to keep a government in power for the full five-year term is good for stability, says Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan (pic).

       However, the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister called for a proper evaluation of the Anti-Hopping Law first. He said this was because such a law could affect democracy if a hung Parliament scenario arose.

       “If there is a loophole in the Anti-Hopping Law, why can’t we address that first?” he added.

       Kitingan, who is the Sabah Star president, suggested that the government look at how Indonesia handled such situations, adding that its approach was outlined in the Law on Political Parties, which stipulates the rules and regulations governing political parties, including the conduct of party members and representatives.

       He said the Indonesian law focused on the ethics and responsibilities of party members including elected representatives and provided a framework within which parties could manage internal discipline and loyalty issues.

       “Like Malaysia, the intent is to maintain political stability and integrity, though the exact measures and implications can vary,” he said when contacted.

       Kitingan said both countries’ laws reflected a common concern in many democracies – the need to balance the rights of individual representatives with the stability and predictability of the political system.

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       He said the concept of a government remaining in power until the next scheduled general election is a fundamental aspect of many parliamentary democracies.“But it is usually more a matter of political convention and constitutional design rather than a specific law as such,” he said.

       Kitingan said in countries with a stable parliamentary system, the government was expected to serve its full term, barring exceptional circumstances like a vote of no confidence, dissolution of Parliament or other political shifts.