Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said there is no need for the government to formulate an anti-party hopping law as had been urged by DAP chairperson Karpal Singh.

NONE "No necessity (for the law) because previously the opposition did not say anything when Barisan Nasional (BN) elected representatives defected," he said responding to questions from reporters in Johor Baharu today.

He said this when approached by reporters after launching a subsidiary of the Mutiara Motors group, M7 Racing Sdn Bhd, and opening the M7 Research and Development Centre, at Bangunan Mutiara Motors Larkin.

Karpal was reported to have repeated his call that the government considered the formulation of the act to ensure that elected representatives vacated their seats after leaving their respective party.

This followed the surprise move by Malim Nawar State Assemblyman, Keshwinder Singh, who left the DAP in Perak and became an Independent assemblyperson who supported the BN.

Replying to another question, Mahathir said the elected representatives had a specific role to play, that is, to tell off the opposition or even the BN elected representatives if they had committed any mistake.

- Bernama