Why did the previous government reject automatic triggers for party hopping?

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The Previous Government Rejected Automatic Triggers for Party Hopping Due to Political Expediency

The administration led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin rejected the suggestion for automatic triggers within the Anti-Party Hopping Act to take effect when a Member of Parliament is sacked from their party. This decision was primarily influenced by the political landscape at the time, specifically the influx of Umno politicians joining the Bersatu party, which was the leading component of the government then.
Political Motivations Behind the Rejection

During the drafting of the anti-party hopping legislation, the Pakatan Harapan coalition, then in opposition, proposed that expulsion from a political party should automatically disqualify a lawmaker from retaining their seat. However, this specific provision was not approved by the government then in power, which was headed by Muhyiddin Yassin.
Circumstances of the Previous Government

The government led by Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, which included Bersatu, was in power from March 2020 to August 2021. At that juncture, a significant number of politicians from Umno were reportedly joining Bersatu. The inclusion of an automatic trigger based on party expulsion could have potentially led to the disqualification of these newly joined lawmakers, thereby undermining the government's stability and numerical strength.
Anwar's Perspective on the Amendments

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has indicated that the current administration is open to discussing amendments to the Anti-Party Hopping Act 2022 to address such loopholes. He noted that the previous government's opposition to the automatic trigger mechanism, which he described as being unknown to many, highlights the potential for political considerations to influence legislative decisions. Anwar has stated that if Perikatan Nasional, the current opposition, wishes to discuss amendments, the ruling coalition is prepared to engage in orderly discussions.

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Why did the previous government reject automatic triggers for party hopping?

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