Putrajaya proposes PM term limit rule be applied retrospectively
PARLIAMENT | The government has proposed that the move to limit the prime minister’s term in office to 10 years should be applied retrospectively.
The bill on the suggested constitutional amendment states that any period during which a person held the office prior to the law’s enforcement will be taken into account.
Periods of time when a person assumed the role of the prime minister following the dissolution of Parliament under Clause (2) of Article 55 of the Federal Constitution will not be considered in the aggregate for the stipulated 10-year term.
The bill, tabled for its first reading by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said in the Dewan Rakyat today, means that previous prime ministers who only served for one term or less will be allowed to return to the position.
Among those who will still be able to hold the title of prime minister are former premiers Muhyiddin Yassin (Pagoh-PN) and Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Temerloh-BN), who served for less than two years each.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who acted as prime minister for 24 years across two non-consecutive terms, will not be able to vie for the position again.
Najib Abdul Razak, who remains incarcerated over his role in the 1MDB global financial scandal, was prime minister for eight years, 11 months, and a day, when his tenure as a caretaker premier is excluded.
Extra financial expenditures
The bill further states that a prime minister appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not hold the office for more than 10 years, either continuously or otherwise.
If found to be in contravention of the rule, the prime minister and members of his cabinet shall cease to hold office.
However, the person and the cabinet members are expected to continue discharging the functions of their office until a new prime minister is appointed by the king, thus providing continuity of the government’s administration.
The bill notes that while the constitutional amendment will involve extra financial expenditures for the government, the amount of such additional spending cannot yet be determined.
Azalina previously said the second reading for the bill will be on March 3, with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim expected to table the matter.
The proposal to cap the prime minister’s tenure at two terms is widely seen as part of broader institutional reform efforts to strengthen democratic practice and governance.
This term limit is not necessary a good idea. Look at countries that have limits. The Philippines have only 1 term. Indonesia 2 terms, the US also 2 terms. These countries are not doing better than us. This term limit is a western import, which may not suit Asian societies. Just look at China and India. They do not have term limits and the leaders have the opportunity to see thru their various projects with no threat of disruption. If Mahathir had not ruled for 22 years, would we be at where we are today? The moment he left office in 2004, the new PM begun dismantling his unfinished projects.