CYBERJAYA: Backbench MPs who did not vote to cap the Prime Minister’s tenure at 10-years should answer to their voters and their respective party whips, says government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
Fahmi also said backbench MPs should have been present during Parliament proceedings.
“First, they need to explain to the voters they are representing, and second, to their respective party whips.
“We don’t care if the Opposition (MPs were absent). There are some of them whose attendance is very low.
“But, for the backbench MPs, we must be present,” Fahmi told reporters after officiating the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) launch at Menara 2 Cyberjaya on Tuesday (March 3).
Fahmi said checks with the Speaker’s Office found that all Pakatan Harapan MPs were present, while three from Barisan Nasional, one each from Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah were absent, as well as one from Parti Bangsa Malaysia, and two MPs from PAS.
According to Fahmi, Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir was absent because he was in the hospital, while Tapah MP Datuk Seri M. Saravanan was attending prayers.
“Some even said they were caught in a traffic jam,” said Fahmi, referring to Julau MP Datuk Larry Sng, who said traffic issues prevented him from reaching the Dewan Rakyat in time to vote for the constitutional amendments to cap the premier’s term.
“It’s just that, Bukit Gantang MP (Datuk Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fasal) gave an unusual answer,” added Fahmi.
Fahmi was referring to an earlier remark by Syed Abu who said he was absent from voting in Parliament because he disagreed with the cap on the premier’s tenure.
Fahmi said the instruction given by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof was for all backbench MPs to be present.
“The DPM looked a bit disappointed that his eight MPs were not present,” he added/
At the same time, Fahmi said the Opposition’s refusal to vote on such a crucial constitutional amendment signals that the Opposition wants Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to remain as premier.
“For that, we say thank you to the Opposition,” he added.
Fahmi said the bill to cap the PM’s tenure can be brought back at anytime, as the Parliament is set to meet again in June and in October this year.
“I believe that if the Opposition really understands, maybe we can keep engaging them.
“This is an issue of good governance, capping the PM’s tenure means there are principles of accountability. This Bill should have been supported by all MPs,” he said.
On Monday (March 2), the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2026 to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to two terms failed to receive two-thirds majority approval from the Dewan Rakyat after a bloc vote.
A total of 146 MPs voted in favour while 32 were absent and 44 abstained from voting.
