PETALING JAYA: Limiting the Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms is seen as a timely step towards reducing the concentration of power, but it must be accompanied by broader institutional reforms to be truly effective, caution experts.
Lawyer Andrew Khoo said that while the proposal was a step in the right direction, the effectiveness of such reform would depend on whether it was implemented alongside broader measures to enhance transparency, accountability and parliamentary independence.
“Stronger oversight mechanisms, a Parliament less dependent on executive control, and restrictions that apply to other office-holders are equally important,” Khoo said when contacted.
He added that any law on term limits could still be repealed by a future government and that constitutional entrenchment is essential to ensure permanence.
He said the recent amendments proposed for Article 43 of the Federal Constitution introduce clear limits on the tenure of a prime minister, including a cap of 10 years in total, whether served in consecutive or non-consecutive terms.
Another lawyer, Joshua Wu, said the proposed reform could help prevent abuse of power and promote leadership renewal.
He, however, said stronger institutional and parliamentary checks remain essential to complement term limits, such as removing the prime minister’s involvement in appointments to key oversight offices and introducing independent vetting mechanisms.
“This could take the form of a Parliamentary Select Committee or a statutory body similar to the Judicial Appointments Commission to oversee high‑level appointments,” Wu said.
He added that such reforms would help reduce executive dominance and strengthen accountability, ensuring that term limits form part of a broader effort to reinforce Malaysia’s democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan described the proposed amendment as a necessary step to ensure no prime minister holds office without a legal cap on tenure.
Syahredzan also dismissed concerns that the proposal would restrict voters’ choices, noting that Malaysia does not operate under a presidential system where the prime minister is directly elected.
“Voters would be aware that any prime minister would serve a maximum of 10 years.
“Political parties simply need to adapt and ensure proper succession planning,” he said when contacted.
In contrast, Kubang Kerian MP Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man argued that the proposed amendment alone will not guarantee good governance, as the real safeguard against abuse of power lies in the integrity of those who hold office.
He said while institutional mechanisms such as term limits can play a role, they should not be viewed as a substitute for strong leadership values and accountability.
“What truly matters is the leader’s character, integrity and trustworthiness,” he said when contacted.
The PAS deputy president also said the proposed constitutional amendment risked being seen as a symbolic reform, if deeper governance issues remain unaddressed.
