There is an urgent need for an anti-hopping law to stop politicians jumping ship, said Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) national coordinator bureau chief K Kunasekaran.

"These self-centred politicians place their own self-interest above their parties and also betray the public who voted for them, based on their party affiliation. Switching camps destroy people's democratic rights and encourages money politics," he said.

A politician's seat should automatically becomes vacant if he switches parties and a fresh election should be called, he added.

Ku NONE nasekaran ( left ), who is also a PSM central committee member, suggested that until there is a law against party-hopping, all politicians must take an oath that they will resign from all posts if they leave the party.

He pointed out in 2009, when three former Pakatan assemblypersons declared themselve s as independents friendly to BN, and caused the collapse of Pakatan rule in Perak, it caused great confusion, tension and even economic uncertainty in the state.

He alleged that the BN, after succeeding in Perak, is now plotting the downfall of the Pakatan state governments in Selangor and Penang.

"Unless the party-hopping trend is arrested, the country will face chaos and political uncertainty." he concluded.