KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia unveiled legislation Monday to limit prime ministers to two terms, targeting executive overreach and enhancing accountability in a country with no prior cap on leadership duration.
The move fulfills a 2022 election pledge by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan coalition amid criticism over slow anti-corruption reforms. Anwar announced the push in January, vowing it would apply to him first: “A 10-year period is sufficient to carry out responsibilities effectively. I won’t make laws only for others.”
Former premier Mahathir Mohamad’s 24 years in office – 1981-2003 and 2018-2020 – exemplifies the absence of limits, provided a leader holds parliamentary majority support.
Local media hail the bill as a bid to regain urban voter trust ahead of 2027 elections, though it needs two-thirds Lower House approval (148 of 222 seats) to pass. The reform caps a tenure previously unchecked by the constitution, as long as the Dewan Rakyat backs the incumbent.