KUALA LUMPUR: Putrajaya is studying a two-term limit for the Prime Minister post, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said this would include discussions with political parties nationwide.
She added that a preliminary study report on the proposal had also been presented to the Cabinet on March 19.
“The government is always open and committed to examining any proposals involving improvements to the country's administrative and governance systems, including the proposal to limit the term of the Prime Minister to two parliamentary terms or a maximum of ten years.
“The Cabinet has acknowledged that this proposal involves amendments to the Federal Constitution and touches upon the discretionary powers of His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,” she said in a parliamentary written reply to Hassan Abdul Karim (PH-Pasir Gudang).
Hassan had asked the government to state the when will it table the amendment of the Federal Constitution to limit the prime minister’s term.
Azalina said that the amendment requires a thorough and holistic review, including obtaining views and consent from various stakeholders such as state governments and political parties at both Federal and State levels.
She added that the matters are also still being reviewed by the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU JPM).
In March, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he agreed with a proposal to limit the tenure to 10 years.
He highlighted the need for bipartisan support to secure a two-thirds parliamentary majority for constitutional amendments.
