PETALING JAYA: Adopting a closed list proportional representation (CLPR) voting system would better fit the current trend of forming post-election coalition governments, says a civil society group.
Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) said that adding CLPR to the existing first-past-the-post (FPTP) system would effectively give voters two votes: one for a local candidate and another for a party.
"The institutional fix is to add CLPR seats on top of existing First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) seats.
"Voters could support their preferred party through the CLPR ballot, regardless of who is on their FPTP ballot," Projek Sama said in a statement on Wednesday (April 29).
"This will force parties to work hard to earn the trust of their allies' supporters instead of simply relying on the alliance to pull them through.
"Consequently, any party considering a post-election 'breakup' will have to think twice, as it will no longer be able to easily harvest the votes of former partners," the group added.
Under the FPTP electoral system, it said parties opt to form permanent coalitions or pacts, while asking their supporters to vote for their allies.
They said that what was happening in Negri Sembilan now was similar to the Sheraton Move of February 2020.
"Both (the) Negri Sembilan (development) and the Sheraton Move... damage public trust and demand urgent changes in mindset, practice and the political system itself.
"The core challenge is how to spare voters from having to support Party B which they distrust, without preventing their preferred Party A from forming a government with it after the election.
"Under FPTP, many voters are backed into a corner, as they must either vote for an unwanted ally or stay home.
"Both options reduce their political power. Solving this is in the interest of every political party and the health of our democracy," it added.
Projek Sama said Articles 116 and 117 of the Federal Constitition would need to be amended to allow CLPR.
"It is an undeniably difficult task, but it is a conversation that must start now.
"Concerns that such a system might further polarise Malaysian politics deserve a serious, evidence-based public debate, not knee-jerk dismissal.
"Until such reform is in place, Projek Sama urges political parties to avoid entering permanent coalitions or completely ruling out absolute power-sharing with specific political parties unless promises can be upheld.
"Political parties or coalitions should opt for limited electoral pacts with compatible parties where some multi-cornered fights might be allowed, preserving the voter’s right to choose," it added.
The Negri Sembilan unity government was split on Monday (April 27) when 14 Umno assemblymen withdrew their support for Pakatan Harapan's Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun, the Mentri Besar.
This left Pakatan with only 17 seats in the 36-member state assembly.
Following this, five Perikatan Nasional assemblymen said they were willing to form a new state administration with Umno.
The Yang di-Pertuan Besar, however, decreed that Aminuddin should remain in office for now.
It has also been widely speculated that four Umno assemblymen may throw their support behind Aminuddin.
