GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has no current plans to amend the state constitution to change the wording of the chief minister’s tenure limit from “two terms” to “10 years”.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said Article 7 Clause 2(a) of the state constitution provides that the Yang di-Pertua Negeri shall appoint as chief minister a member of the State Legislative Assembly who, in his judgment, commands the confidence of the majority of assemblymen and “has not at any time held the office of Chief Minister for two terms”.
He said Article 19 Clause 3 of the state constitution stipulates that unless sooner dissolved, the State Legislative Assembly shall continue for five years from the date of its first sitting.
“In the event that the State Legislative Assembly is dissolved before a term reaches five years, the phrase ‘two terms’ should be understood as the cumulative calculation of the years involved for the first and second terms.
“The total duration may therefore be less than 10 years but cannot in any circumstances exceed 10 years,” he said.
Chow said the state government currently had no plans to make such an amendment.
He also added that if Parliament passes a constitutional amendment bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years, Penang could then discuss whether to amend the state constitution to change the provision on the chief minister’s tenure limit from “two terms” to “10 years”, in line with the federal government.
Chow said this in a written reply to Lee Khai Loon (PH - Machang Bubuk) during the state Legislative Assembly sitting.
Lee had asked for the definition of “two terms” in the context of the state constitution, particularly when the assembly may be dissolved before completing a full five-year term.
He also asked whether the state government was prepared to amend the provision from “two terms” to “10 years”, which he described as more precise.
