Malaysia mulls over law to curb premiership to two terms
Sign up now: Get insights on the biggest stories in Malaysia
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged a two-term limit during the 2022 election, but local media said there has been criticism about the slow pace of reform.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia introduced new legislation on Feb 23 to restrict the prime minister’s tenure to a maximum of two terms, a move aimed at boosting accountability and curbing the overreach of executive powers.
The South-east Asian nation currently places no cap on how many terms a prime minister can serve.
Former leader Mahathir Mohamad held office for 24 years across two stints – from 1981 to 2003 and again between 2018 and 2020.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in January announced a push for a two-term limit
In its election manifesto in 2022, Datuk Seri Anwar’s ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition pledged a two-term limit on the prime ministership. But there has been criticism about the slow pace of reform, local media reports said, with the move seen as an attempt to win back urban voters in the run-up to general elections slated for 2027.
Mr Anwar said last week that if the law is implemented, it would apply to him first. He added that a 10-year period was sufficient for those in office to carry out their responsibilities effectively. “I won’t be making laws (only) for other people. The law must be applied to me first,” he said.
The proposed change requires approval from at least two-thirds of lawmakers, or 148 out of the 222 seats in the Lower House, to pass.
Currently, there is no formal constitutional limit on how long a prime minister may serve, provided the individual commands majority support in the Dewan Rakyat, the Malaysian Parliament. AFP
