KUALA LUMPUR: Sri Aman MP Datuk Seri Doris Brodie has backed the proposed 10 year term limit for the Prime Minister, calling it a vital reform to strengthen governance and investor confidence.
She said the Constitution Amendment Bill 2026 should be viewed as a structural reform rather than merely a restriction on tenure.
“Power is a temporary trust, not a lifelong right. Institutions must be stronger than any individual,” she said when debating the motion of thanks on the Yang di Pertuan Agong’s royal address in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
Doris noted that limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure to an aggregate of 10 years would create room for leadership renewal and fresh ideas, while preventing over reliance on a single individual in steering national development.
However, she cautioned that large scale development, institutional reform and economic transformation require policy continuity to ensure stability during transitions.
“Without a structured transition plan, the momentum of strategic national development could be affected,” she said, urging the government to put clear mechanisms in place.
From a governance standpoint, she said term limits would strengthen accountability and uphold checks and balances, warning that prolonged tenures risk concentrating influence to the extent that institutions adapt to personalities rather than systems.
At the same time, she acknowledged that rigid limits could sideline capable leaders, particularly when long term transformation agendas are ongoing. She suggested that a more balanced approach, including the possibility of extending the cap to 15 years under clearly defined circumstances, could be considered.
Doris also highlighted practical concerns, including whether service prior to the amendment’s enforcement would be counted and how to prevent a policy vacuum if the Cabinet ceases when a Prime Minister reaches the term limit.
She called for clear provisions on caretaker government mechanisms and interim arrangements following the dissolution of Parliament to avoid misinterpretation or manipulation.
From an economic perspective, she said the amendment would not harm the country and could instead enhance investor confidence by reducing the centralisation of power, provided fiscal and investment policy continuity is maintained across administrations.
