Current model fractured and no longer reflects political realities, says analyst
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s electoral system is increasingly out of step with its political realities, reform advocates observed, as the latest turbulence in Negeri Sembilan reignites concerns over the stability and credibility of coalition governments.
Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek Sama) said the crisis highlights a growing disconnect between how governments are elected and how power is ultimately exercised, urging pertinent reforms to restore voter trust.
Under the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, candidates can win seats with a plurality of votes, even if most voters backed other contenders.
Projek Sama said this has led to a recurring pattern in which voters are asked to support preelection alliances that may not survive beyond polling day – a dynamic it described as eroding political accountability.
“When no party can win a majority alone, coalition governments become necessary – a normal feature of mature parliamentary democracies.
“However, under Malaysia’s FPTP system, parties often form pre-election coalitions or electoral pacts that require voters to support allied parties who may later withdraw from those arrangements.”
It cited both the Negeri Sembilan developments and the 2020 Sheraton Move as examples of post-election realignments that have shaken public confidence.
“In both cases, voters feel betrayed when alliances collapse after elections,” it said, adding that such shifts expose structural weaknesses in how coalitions are formed and sustained.
While anti-hopping laws introduced after the Sheraton Move have curbed individual defections, Projek Sama said they fail to address the withdrawal of entire parties from governing coalitions.
“Had Umno/BN contested under a permanent coalition banner with Pakatan Harapan in 2023, the Negeri Sembilan anti-hopping law might have triggered as many as 14 by-elections,” it said, pointing to the unintended consequences of partial reforms.
To address what it described as a “fundamental design flaw”, the group proposed introducing closed list proportional representation (CLPR) seats alongside the existing system.
Under the proposal, voters would cast two votes – one for a local candidate and another for a preferred political party – allowing them to back parties without being forced to endorse coalition partners.
Using Negeri Sembilan as an example, Projek Sama simulated adding 12 CLPR seats to the existing 36 constituencies. Based on the 2023 vote shares – Pakatan Harapan (39%), Barisan Nasional (38%) and Perikatan Nasional (22%) – the allocation would be PH (five), BN (five) and PN (two).
Projek Sama said such a hybrid model would strengthen voter engagement and reduce political manipulation by compelling parties to maintain support across coalition lines.
“This would compel parties to work harder to earn the confidence of voters beyond their immediate base, rather than relying on coalition arrangements to secure power.”
Projek Sama acknowledged that constitutional amendments to Articles 116 and 117 would be required, but stressed that the issue must be openly debated.
Pending reform, it urged political parties to adopt more cautious coalition strategies, including avoiding rigid alliances that limit voter choice.
It also warned voters against disengagement, saying abstention would only weaken their influence and encouraged continued participation alongside closer scrutiny of coalition dynamics.
On governance in Negeri Sembilan, the group stressed that any administration must command the confidence of the majority in the state assembly, whether through a single-party majority, coalition or a minority government backed by a confidence and supply agreement.
It added that any transition of power must take place through formal confidence or noconfidence votes, with safeguards to prevent prolonged deadlock beyond six months without fresh elections.
Addressing constitutional concerns, Projek Sama said the authority of the state’s royal institution remains intact, noting that conditions for the removal of the Yang di-Pertuan Besar have not been met and that Tuanku Muhriz ibni Tuanku Munawir remains the legitimate head of state.
Amid global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, the group urged political actors to act responsibly.
“Malaysians deserve stability, not the absence of change, but the maintenance of predictability and public trust amidst necessary political evolution,” it said.
