PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia will see a new wave of legal and institutional reforms in 2026, including a proposal to impose a fixed two-term limit on the prime minister’s tenure, says Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.
Azalina said the proposed fixed-term limit would apply only to the prime minister.
“Extensive studies had already been conducted by the ministry. For me, this is an important reform to ensure institutional stability and good governance,” she said in her 2026 New Year Address here on Monday (Jan 5).
She said the Dewan Rakyat sitting beginning Jan 19 would be pivotal as four key reform themes would be advanced this year.
This includes the separation of the powers of the Attorney General (AG) and the Public Prosecutor (PP) through constitutional amendment; the introduction of a fixed tenure for the prime minister, either capped at 10 years or two terms; and the implementation of a Freedom of Information (FOI) law and an Ombudsman, both of which would require only a simple parliamentary majority.
"The Cabinet has already agreed to begin the constitutional amendment process to separate the roles of the AG and the PP," she said.
She added that the government aims to move forward with FOI and the Ombudsman within the same parliamentary session, stressing that the two mechanisms must work hand in hand.
"A government that remains closed risks being perceived as hiding something," she said.
She added that states such as Penang, Selangor and Sarawak have already established ombudsman mechanisms.
Azalina also cited last year’s enactment of the Parliamentary Services Act, which restored Parliament’s independence from executive control, and said further efforts would be made to strengthen its implementation under Parliament’s jurisdiction.
“The journey to reach this stage has required extensive discussion and continuous refinement,” she said.
She also proposed convening a convention or town hall-style engagement this month to gather views from civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders, saying she remained open to input from all quarters, not just politicians.
