KUCHING: Ten years should be sufficient for any prime minister (PM) to carry out the changes they want for Malaysia before making way for new leadership.
Political analyst, Prof. James Chin, said limiting the PM’s tenure to two terms would prevent any future leader from remaining in power for decades.
“The major benefit of having such a system is that everybody knows there’s an ending date.
“This means that whoever is elected the Prime Minister knows that whatever he wants to change in Malaysia, he’s only given 10 years to change it.
“And if he cannot get the change done in 10 years, he will be out,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
The University of Tasmania’s Professor of Asian Studies said the proposed tenure limit would also serve as a safeguard against prolonged authoritarian leadership.
He described the proposal as a major institutional reform that would be highly significant within the region, particularly among countries with a prime ministerial system.
“It is highly significant because this would be the only piece of legislation in the region that limits a Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms.
“Indonesia has it for two terms for President, the Philippines only one, but in the Prime Ministerial system, the closest to us is Singapore. So, this will be highly, highly significant,” he said.
On whether the constitutional amendment could secure the required two-thirds parliamentary majority, Chin believed it could if MPs turned up for the vote.
“I think they will be able to get a two-thirds majority if all the MPs show up. The biggest fear is that the MPs do not show up.
“The question is whether they will show up for the vote. If they don’t show up for the vote, then I would suggest there’s some sort of sabotage going on,” he said.
Chin also said the proposed tenure limit should be treated as an institutional reform rather than a partisan issue.
“Of course, this thing is good for the entire country. It should not be political in the first place, just like the separation of Attorney General (AG) position.
“But as usual in Malaysia, everything is political. So it’s really unfortunate. But overall, it’s a very good thing for Malaysia,” he added.
The Bill to limit the PM’s tenure is ready for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat, but its tabling at the next parliamentary sitting will depend on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as Leader of the House.
Law and Institutional Reform Minister, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, said the proposal requires an amendment to the Federal Constitution and must secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority.
