KUALA LUMPUR: A Bill to limit the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years is ready for its second reading in the Dewan Rakyat, says Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said (pic).
However, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the decision on whether to table the Bill at the next parliamentary sitting rests with the Leader of the House, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Everything is ready. The limit on the prime minister’s term is ready.
“It is subject to the Leader of the House, the Prime Minister, on whether we want to bring it for a vote at the next sitting,” she told reporters after launching the Public Opinion Survey on the Drafting of the Coroners Bill here yesterday.
Azalina said the proposed term limit for the prime minister would involve amendments to the Federal Constitution and would therefore require the support of a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
She said the same applies to the Bill on the separation of the Attorney General (AG) and Public Prosecutor (PP) roles, which would also require a two-thirds majority.
“Since both Bills involve amendments to the Federal Constitution, we need a two-thirds majority.
“The same applies to the separation of the roles of the AG and PP, which also requires a two-thirds majority. So, domestic politics does play a role,” she said.
In this regard, Azalina appealed to all MPs, regardless of political affiliation, to support the proposed reforms, saying they could help reduce perceptions of politically motivated prosecutions.
“I sincerely hope that members of the Dewan Rakyat, the Dewan Negara and all political parties will welcome these Bills because they bring more benefits than drawbacks. This is for our country,” she said.
Azalina said the Bill separating the roles of the AG and PP is also expected to strengthen confidence in the country’s prosecution system, Bernama reported.
“I do not want to hear people claiming, whenever they are charged, that there is some hidden agenda behind it.
“InsyaAllah, this separation of roles will inspire greater confidence, especially when the Public Prosecutor is appointed through a parliamentary process,” she said.
