He said history was made when the bill was passed unanimously with a total of 209 MPs voting in favour of the bill. Eleven MPs were absent.

“Thank you to all the MPs from the government, opposition and independent blocs,” he said in a statement.

He added that the bill was important to ensure long-term political stability in the country.

Ismail also thanked the 54 MPs who debated and provided their views on the bill.

“This is a clear indication that MPs are practising mature politics by prioritising the interests and wellbeing of the people,” he said.

The bill was passed after debates yesterday and today involving 54 MPs. It was tabled for its second reading by Ismail yesterday.

It passed the second and third reading today.

The tabling of the anti-hopping bill is one of the key conditions of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Ismail and Pakatan Harapan.

Under the bill, MPs will lose their seats if they choose to jump to another party. Exceptions will be provided for MPs who are sacked by their party or if their party is dissolved or deregistered.

An MP who is elected as the Dewan Rakyat Speaker will also be exempted from the law.

The announcement of the passing of the bill by Speaker Azhar Harun was met with chants of “Hidup Rakyat” (long live the people) and “Hidup MoU” (long live the MoU) by opposition MPs.

The bill required at least a two-thirds majority, or the support of at least 148 MPs, in the Dewan Rakyat, to amend Article 10 (1)(c) of the Federal Constitution.