Bill to limit prime minister to two terms to be tabled
PUTRAJAYA: A Bill to limit the prime minister’s term to a period of no more than 10 years or two full terms are among the crucial reforms to be tabled in Parliament this year, announces Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the Bill is among several others which will be brought the august House for approval, beginning with one to separate the powers of the Attorney-General and the Public Prosecutor this Parliament meeting which starts on Jan 19.
“Everyone has a term limit. The Chief Secretary to the Government cannot serve for decades and the same principle applies to all.
“If the duties can be discharged within this time frame, then it is better for us to hand them over to the next generation.
“This applies to the Prime Minister’s Department. That is why we will table the Bill to limit the tenure of the prime minister to no more than 10 years or two full terms,” he said in his New Year message at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly.
Anwar shared a light moment with civil servants when he announced plans to limit the prime minister’s term.
“Those who clapped, please take down their names,” Anwar quipped drawing chuckles from the floor.
There is currently no law to limit the prime minister’s term in office, allowing them to serve indefinitely as long as they maintain parliamentary support.
In 2019, the then Pakatan Harapan-led government tabled a Bill to cap the prime minister’s tenure at two terms, aimed at preventing power abuse.
However, the Bill was withdrawn by the Perikatan Nasional government after taking over the administration in 2020.
In March last year, Anwar had called for a thorough and detailed study of the proposal to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years.
Anwar said that other Bills to be tabled this year include the establishment of an Ombudsman, and Freedom of Information (FOI).
The proposed the Ombudsman Bill aims to grant broader powers to strengthen integrity and transparency in the public sector, while providing the public with a formal channel to raise issues related to public accountability.
The Prime Minister said a Freedom of Information Bill will be introduced, with safeguards for matters involving national security and intelligence.
“However, on other issues such as project tenders and preventing abuse of power, the FOI Bill will be tabled and will also be passed this year,” he said.
On another matter, Anwar directed all ministries to ensure that small-scale projects such as rural roads, construction of quarters and repairs to dilapidated clinics are carried out immediately and be identified as early as next month.
To speed up implementation, he said the government had issued the general expenditure warrant for this year earlier than usual, in December 2025, compared with the previous practice of March or April.
“The government allocated RM2.4bil for small projects involving G1 to G4 contractors, most of whom are bumiputra contractors. Implementation must begin immediately at the state and district levels,” he said.
Anwar said while major projects such as flood mitigation works, public housing, the East Coast Rail Link and the Pan Borneo Highway were progressing according to schedule, greater urgency was needed for the smaller projects.
“How can we talk about the Twin Towers, long bridges and LRT projects when a broken bridge that prevents children from going to school cannot be fixed?” he lamented.
The Prime Minister also highlighted achievements recorded by the Government including the strengthening of the ringgit, the RON95 fuel subsidy rationalisation and record-high foreign direct investment in Malaysia last year.
“Foreign investments rose to RM285.8bil, an increase of 13.2%. Trade in Malaysia from Jan to Nov last year amounted to RM2.8 trillion, which is an increase of 5.8%.
“Malaysia is not a small country. We have great potential here,” Anwar said.
