PUTRAJAYA: The Bill to limit the Prime Minister’s tenure to no more than 10 years will be brought to the next Parliament siting in June, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
According to the Communications Minister and government spokesperson, this was decided by the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday (March 4).
“We hope government MPs will give full support to attend and vote to pass this very important constitutional amendment,” said Fahmi during his weekly press conference on Wednesday (March 4).
Parliament will meet again from June 22 to July 16 this year.
Asked if any action would be taken against absent backbench MPs, Fahmi said Anwar is still undecided about it.
“It depends on the Prime Minister if he wants to take any action,” he said.
Fahmi said presently, the government chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof informed that out of the eight MPs who did not vote, two have written formally to explain their absence that day.
“We are waiting for the other six MPs,” he added.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the Cabinet was also informed that Opposition MPs misunderstood the Bill, where some thought it was a new proposal to enable Anwar to serve as prime minister for 10 years.
“We did not know how the Opposition misunderstood this. All MPs should understand that this effort will not create a situation where the Prime Minister will act with impunity because he will be ruling forever.
“I hope MPs can ensure that this non-partisan Constitution amendment which will benefit our nations democracy can be passed together (in Parliament),” 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 (including eight backbencher MPs) were absent and 44 abstained from voting.
On Tuesday (March 3), Fahmi have said Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir was absent because he was in hospital, while Tapah MP Datuk Seri Saravanan Murugan was attending some prayers.
