PETALING JAYA: Capping the premiership reflects the government’s commitment to institutional reform and could help re-energise an electorate increasingly fatigued since the general election in 2022, say analysts.
They said the proposed 10-year term limit for the prime minister’s tenure, expected to be introduced this year, marks a new chapter in Malaysian politics and signals the end of strongman-style leadership.
Asia Group associate vice-president Asrul Sani said the proposed term limit echoes public sentiment, with voters calling for stronger checks and balances within the executive.
“The era of Mahathirism is over. The 2018 elections showed that Malaysians were tired of strongman politics,” he said.
“Personalities still matter, but voters are increasingly looking for clearer limits on power and stronger institutions, rather than leadership built around a single figure. It also pushes political parties to take succession planning seriously.”
Asrul said the 10-year cap is likely to be viewed positively by the public, injecting fresh energy into an increasingly jaded electorate.
“For Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, it reinforces his reformist credentials and allows him to credibly claim that he has delivered on key election pledges,” he said.
He added that a decade in office provides sufficient time for a prime minister to implement meaningful policies, but warned of the risks that come with extended tenures.
“As a fixed term progresses, political capital diminishes and succession dynamics intensify, particularly in the final one to two years,” he said.
“This creates the risk of a lame-duck phase, making it critical for so-called ‘legacy policies’ to be institutionalised early, rather than deferred to the end of a tenure.”
Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research senior fellow Dr Azmi Hassan said implementing a term limit will also bolster Anwar’s image, noting that the Prime Minister has advocated such a reform for several years.
He said a 10-year limit is adequate for a sitting prime minister to pursue long-term policies, while ensuring that power is not overly concentrated in the executive.
“He knew it was necessary to stop power from being vested too heavily in a single individual.
“After 10 years, the country needs new ideas from a new prime minister. The term limit ensures the government remains receptive to fresh thinking.
“As such, it will be difficult for the Opposition not to support this Bill,” Azmi added.
Meanwhile, a recent public consultation conducted by the Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) found overwhelming support for capping the prime minister’s tenure at 10 years.
BHEUU (Policy and Development) deputy director-general Datuk S. Punitha said a week-long poll involving 3,722 participants showed that 89.9% supported limiting the premiership to two full terms, while 8.27% disagreed and 1.75% were undecided.
On the specific duration, she said 62.25% favoured a two-term cap, followed by 20.61% who preferred a maximum of 10 years.
The study also found that 58.87% of respondents wanted the term limit applied retrospectively, while 35.46% preferred a prospective approach.
Furthermore, 67.6% agreed that a prime minister’s total tenure should be calculated cumulatively, whether served consecutively or not.
Among countries that have implemented a two-term limit for heads of government are the United States, France and Turkiye.
Within Asean, nations that impose term limits on presidents include Indonesia, Laos and Timor-Leste.
