KUCHING: Progressive Democratic Party (PDP) deputy president Datuk Henry Harry Jinep has weighed in on the ongoing debate over limiting the tenure of state leaders, arguing that such reforms should not apply to Sarawak’s Premier until the state achieves full development and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) is fully realised.
His remarks came in response to Senator Abun Sui Anyit, who urged the federal government’s proposal to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at two terms or 10 years to also be extended to the Sarawak Premier and other state leaders through amendments to state constitutions.
Henry noted that Sarawak’s context is unique, and imposing term limits prematurely could disrupt the state’s development momentum.
“I don’t agree with the suggestion as long as the MA63 hasn’t been fully implemented and until Sarawak has developed on par with Malaya. We cannot simply follow political sentiment; we must consider Sarawak’s own reality and pace,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
On the issue of term limits, Henry said he saw no clear benefit in restricting the Premier’s tenure at this stage.
“I do not see any legitimate advantage in limiting the Premier’s term when Sarawak has not yet reached full development. The state needs strong leadership to drive progress, manage the economic pie, and reclaim our eroded rights under MA63, so that we can eventually become a fully developed region,” he said.
Henry emphasised that Sarawak’s priority remains development, highlighting the state’s large land area and the continuing need to improve basic infrastructure in many rural communities.
“Sarawak has a vast land mass, larger than Malaya, and many areas still lack basic facilities. We should continue to focus on bringing more development to the state until we can confidently say we are fully developed, and no one can claim we have been left behind,” he added.
