“The Machiavellian trend of bending laws and practices is a reflection of the 80s and 90s, whereby various institutions and laws were bent to secure Mahathir’s power,” he said in a statement.

Criticising the proposal as a “knee-jerk reaction” that would encroach on the Federal Constitution, the former deputy minister advised against “taking the easy way out by making bad laws”.

“Politics should work within the framework of the legal system and constitution.

“The proposal to enact a policy or law for a fixed-term government to prevent political turmoil will encroach on the present constitutional provisions and the jurisdiction of the constitutional monarch,” he said.

Ti said politicians and office-bearers must not be shielded or be immune to votes of no confidence when they failed in office, adding that such votes were “part and parcel of our Malaysian democratic process”.

“(Votes of no confidence) allow the elected MPs to either affirm their support or put a stop to any rot in the government or office bearers. Similarly, the mechanism provided by the constitution for changes of government should not be curtailed or denied,” he said.

The FTPA was proposed last week by deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to prevent attempts to change the government, following the speculated “Dubai Move”.

It would mandate that if a government is formed with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s consent by a dominant party, or a combination of parties, it should remain in power until the end of its five-year term.