PETALING JAYA: PAS supports calls for proposed laws to prevent party hopping, says deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man.

       The former environment and water minister said that such laws were needed to avoid destabilising the nation through changes in government due to party hopping.

       "There need to be laws related to party hopping. If not, it is not impossible that there will be a change of government but that this will repeat itself.

       "If there is an Act, God willing, those who win will not leave and hop to other parties," he said during a ceramah aired on the Kelantan TV portal on Monday (Aug 23).

       There had been calls by civil society for anti-hopping laws to be introduced in the wake of the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration last February.

       Currently, courts have decided there was no prohibition from lawmakers to switch camps owing to freedom of association under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

       Tuan Ibrahim was quoted by Malay daily Sinar Harian as saying that PAS had taken several steps to keep their lawmakers in check, including by way of an oath.

       "If they win, they must promise not to hop. If they hop, they will be earning 'illicit' income," he said.

       On the coming general election, the Kubang Kerian MP said that Parliament should be dissolved as soon as the Covid-19 situation eases to allow the mandate to return to the rakyat.

       He noted that PAS will mobilise its existing election machinery to prepare for the polls.

       He added this includes relying on social media platforms to reach out to supporters in light of the current Covid-19 situation.