KUCHING: Leadership continuity is crucial for Sarawak’s long-term development, and imposing rigid term limits on the premier could disrupt policy momentum and weaken governance effectiveness.
Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chief, Datuk Sim Kiang Chiok, said under the Westminster system, a prime minister or premier remained in office only as long as they retained parliamentary confidence, party support, cabinet backing, electoral legitimacy and were subject to judicial oversight.
“These existing checks and balances already prevent abuse of power. A fixed term limits risk creating a ‘start-stop’ effect that could undermine long-term planning and policy continuity,” he said.
Sim pointed to Malaysia’s recent political experience, noting that while extended leadership in the past had provided stability, frequent changes of prime minister in recent years – particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic – resulted in shifting strategies and slogans that weakened governance effectiveness.
He said strengthening parliamentary scrutiny, independent enforcement agencies and judicial autonomy would be more effective than introducing rigid term limits, which could also turn leaders into “lame ducks” during their final term.
On development priorities, Sim said imposing term limits could discourage long-term strategies and reduce accountability for outcomes that require many years to materialise.
At the same time, Sim cautioned that frequent leadership changes could weaken negotiating strength with the federal government for Sarawak’s rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)
“Each new premier may adopt different styles, priorities and strategies in safeguarding Sarawak’s MA63 rights,” he added.
